Approximately ten percent of people, regardless of gender, suffer from infertility problems in the United States.
If you’re having trouble conceiving, you may be offered IVF as a first response. But, there are other helpful paths out there for you.
Let’s go through the alternatives to IVF that you might be interested in.
1. Medications To Improve Fertility
There are medications out there that can make it more likely to help you conceive. Medications that increase the number of eggs released every month can increase the likelihood of conception, for example.
Of course, before you try anything, you’ll need to discontinue birth control. If you’ve taken more permanent measures, you’ll want to look into vasectomy reversal or how to get tubes untied with Medicaid.
People with male genitalia may also require hormone replacement surgery if test results show that they have abnormally low sperm counts that result in troubles with conception.
2. IUI
IUI stands for intrauterine insemination, and it’s a common procedure for improving fertility. It’s notable for taking less time and being less hard on the body than IVF, and tends to be a cheaper alternative to IVF. Essentially, during an IUI procedure, sperm will be directed right into the uterus.
This is very helpful when one partner has a low sperm count or another issue with their sperm. IUI also tends to have high positive result rates, particularly when it comes to couples trying to conceive for the first time.
Consult with your doctor and find out what they recommend when it comes to procedures to improve your chances of conceiving.
3. Surgical Procedures
In some cases, surgical procedures for either or both partners may be necessary to increase the likelihood of conception, which makes for one of the top viable alternatives to IVF. People with male genitalia may require a procedure to treat the condition varicocele, where blood vessels in the scrotum may cause enlargement that could cause infertility.
People with female genitalia may require surgery to remove fibroids. Laparoscopy, for example, can be used to remove adhesions that prevent implantation.
They may also need treatment to resolve other issues with the uterus or the fallopian tubes.
4. Adoption
Of course, sometimes biological children are not an option. However, there are tons of children out there who don’t have a family of their own.
You’ll have to consider what you’re interested in between domestic and international adoption. Consult with a lawyer and with adoption groups in your community to see what they recommend and what your options are.
And, it’s important to think about cultural differences when you’re adopting. You still want your children to be connected to their birth culture, and to know as much as they can about where they came from.
Alternatives to IVF: Now You Know
With these alternatives to IVF, you may have more options to continue your journey to create a family.
Do you need more advice about childcare, pregnancy, and more? We can help, if you read through a few of our other articles.