What Are Different Types of Fertility Treatments?

There are two types of female infertility; primary and secondary. Primary infertility occurs in someone who has never had a child before and has difficulty getting pregnant. When someone has had a previous pregnancy in the past, or multiple prior pregnancies but is struggling to conceive again, it’s said to be a case of secondary infertility.

The most common cause of female infertility is failure to ovulate, which occurs in 40% of women who struggle with infertility. Uterine and cervix issues like fibroids and polyps, advanced age, autoimmune disorders, hormone imbalances and medications like chemotherapy drugs can also contribute to primary infertility.

Some risk factors for secondary infertility include advanced maternal age, obesity, fibroids and endometriosis, thyroid conditions, and PCOS. Secondary infertility is just as common as primary infertility, affecting about 12.5% of couples trying to conceive.

Those who were assigned females at birth experience what is called female infertility, which can be caused by a number of factors. These include fibrosis, damage to the fallopian tubes or ovaries, or Premature Ovarian Failure (POF), which occurs when the ovaries fail to produce eggs. In some cases, undiagnosed medical conditions or genetics can play a part in female infertility.

“Infertility is defined as one year of unprotected intercourse without achieving pregnancy,” Dr. Cary L. Dicken MD, FACOG told Mom.com. “For women over 35 years old, infertility is defined after 6 months of unprotected intercourse without achieving pregnancy.”

Through blood testing your doctor can measure hormone levels to determine whether or not you’re ovulating and, if you are, can then determine ovarian reserves — how many eggs are actually in the ovaries — through additional hormone testing.

A pelvic ultrasound may also be performed to determine whether or not an ovarian or uterine disease could be causing infertility. An individual with infertility may also undergo an x-ray with injected contrast medium to determine whether or not blockages exist in the uterus or fallopian tubes.

There are several types of fertility treatments available for those wishing to become pregnant. Assisted Reproductive Therapy (ART) includes processes like Artificial Insemination (AI) in which donor sperm or the individual’s partner’s sperm are placed in the reproductive tract during ovulation. Similarly, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) places sperm directly in the uterus, close to the fallopian tubes, to increase the chances of becoming pregnant.

If neither AI nor IUI are successful, an individual may undergo In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) in which egg and sperm retrieval and fertilization are completed in a lab and the embryo is then transferred to the uterus.

Cryopreservation, another fertility treatment option, involves the process of “freezing” eggs, sperm, or embryos. Popular social media influencer couple Eamon and Bec — who share their van life and minimalist living videos on their YouTube channel — recently chronicled their fertility treatment after Bec’s breast cancer diagnosis.

The couple chose cryopreservation to ensure future pregnancy after Bec’s surgery and radiation treatment. While cryopreservation is a common fertility treatment option that suits a variety of situations and circumstances, it can be cost-prohibitive.

“Egg freezing can be expensive, especially if not covered by insurance,” Dr. Jenna Turocy told Mom.com. “The costs of egg freezing varies from clinic to clinic and includes an initial consultation with doctor, ultrasound and bloodwork monitoring, injectable medications, surgery to retrieve the eggs, freezing the eggs in the embryology lab, and an annual storage fee.”

In some cases, a person who hasn’t had success becoming pregnant may consider — in conjunction with one of the above ART procedures — opting for egg or embryo donation or seeking out a gestational carrier or surrogate. Regardless of the chosen option, surrounding yourself with a helpful and understanding support system is key.

Mental health support when undergoing fertility treatment
“Struggling to have a biological child is a complicated grief process because it’s often an invisible loss,” Martha Diamond, Ph.D., told the American Psychological Association. “There are no rituals or public ways to honor these losses, and people often don’t talk about it. They feel like something is wrong with them, and these situations can deliver a painful blow to someone’s self-esteem.”

Financial concerns can add another layer of stress. “The process was long, painful, embarrassing, and incredibly stressful. Insurance covered basically nothing and it was so expensive that we at one point asked our parents for some financial help,” mom of two Sarah Elaine told Mom.com. “We are some of the lucky ones that were successful so it was worth it in the end but I would not wish infertility on anyone.”

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine provides a comprehensive list of resources and support options for those struggling with infertility. Your doctor or fertility specialist can help you determine which treatments may work best for your particular needs.

Whatever treatment you choose, know that everyone has their own unique journey. “I had three IUIs and two rounds of IVF. The injectable drugs were terrible,” Sofia Lai told Mom.com. “I had two IUI that didn’t take. I got pregnant 3 times, all of them miscarried. Two relatively early and 1 at 20 weeks which just about destroyed me.”

“I gave up after the last and by some miracle, I had my baby 8 years later without treatment!” Lai said. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”