Assisted reproduction is a set of techniques used by fertility physicians, whose main objective is to promote pregnancy in women with difficulty conceiving.
Over the years, women may experience a decrease in fertility, although younger women may also have difficulty getting pregnant due to several factors, such as tube changes or polycystic ovary syndrome. Here’s what to do if you’re having trouble getting pregnant.
- This condition is driving couples to increasingly look for alternative methods to get pregnant.
- Such as assisted reproduction.
Depending on the case and the situation of the partner or woman wishing to become pregnant, your doctor may recommend one of the following methods of assisted reproduction:
In vitro fertilization is the binding of the egg and sperm in the laboratory, to form the embryo. Once formed, 2 to 4 embryos are placed in the woman’s uterus, making it common for twins to occur in pairs who have undergone this procedure.
In vitro fertilization is usually indicated for women with severe changes in the fallopian tubes and moderate to severe endometriosis. See when it’s indicated and how IVF is performed.
Ovulation induction is done by injections or pills containing hormones that stimulate egg production in women, increasing their chances of getting pregnant.
This technique is mainly used in women with hormonal changes and irregular menstrual cycles, as in the case of polycystic ovaries. Find out how ovulation induction works.
In this method, sex is programmed the same day that the woman ovulates. The exact day of ovulation is followed by an ultrasound of the ovaries throughout the month, allowing the doctor to know the ideal day to try to get pregnant. Another option is to buy an ovulation test that is sold at the pharmacy to find out when you are ovulating.
Scheduled sex is indicated for women who have ovulatory disorders, irregular and very long menstrual cycles or who are diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Artificial insemination is a technique in which sperm are placed directly into a woman’s uterus, increasing the chances of egg fertilization.
The woman normally takes hormones to stimulate ovulation, and the entire sperm collection and insemination process is performed on the day scheduled for the woman’s ovulation. Learn more about how artificial insemination is performed.
This technique is used when the woman has irregularities in ovulation and changes in the cervix.
In this technique, the reproductive clinic produces an embryo from the egg of an unknown donor and from the sperm of the partner of the woman who wants to become pregnant.
This embryo is then placed in the woman’s uterus, which will need to take hormones to prepare the body for pregnancy. It is also worth noting that it is possible to know the physical characteristics and personality of the egg donor, such as skin and eye color, size and occupation.
Egg donation can be used when a woman can no longer produce eggs, which is usually due to early menopause.
In this method, the embryo is formed from the sperm of an unknown donor and the egg of the woman who wants to become pregnant. It is important to note that it is possible to choose the characteristics of the male sperm donor, such as size, skin color and occupation, but it is not possible to identify who is the donor.
Sperm donation can be used when a man cannot produce sperm, a problem usually caused by genetic changes.
The surrogate belly, also called a replacement uterus, occurs when all pregnancy is performed in another woman’s womb. Surrogate gestation rules require that there can be no payment for the process and that the woman lending the womb must be up to 50 years of age and be a fourth-degree mother of the child’s father or mother, and may be a mother, sister, cousin. or the couple’s aunt.
This technique is usually indicated when a woman has high-risk diseases, such as kidney or heart disease, when she has no uterus, when she has had many failures in other techniques to get pregnant or has malformations of the uterus.
The general rule is to ask for help getting pregnant after 1 year of failed attempts, as this is the time it takes most couples to get pregnant.
However, you should be aware of certain situations that can make pregnancy difficult, such as:
After age 35, the quality of the egg usually decreases, making it difficult for the couple to design. Therefore, it is recommended to try a natural pregnancy for 6 months and after this period it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Women with reproductive system problems, such as split uterus, endometriosis, polycystic ovaries or tube obstruction, should see their doctor as soon as they decide to become pregnant, as these diseases increase the difficulty of fathering children and should be treated and controlled by a doctor. Gynecologist.
The same rule applies to men diagnosed with varicocele, which is the enlargement of the veins of the testicles, the leading cause of male infertility.
The irregular menstrual cycle is a sign that ovulation may not occur every month. This means that it is more difficult to predict the fertile period, the planning of sexual intercourse and the chances of getting pregnant.
Thus, in the presence of an irregular menstrual cycle, you should consult your doctor so that you can evaluate the cause of the problem and begin appropriate treatment.
Having a history of 3 or more abortions is a reason to consult a doctor when deciding to become pregnant, as it is necessary to evaluate the causes of abortions and carefully plan the next pregnancy.
In addition to care before you become pregnant, the entire pregnancy should be closely monitored by the doctor, to avoid complications for the mother and baby.
It’s normal to feel anxious for pregnancy to occur soon, but it’s important to remember that it’s natural for the positive outcome to take longer than desired. Therefore, it is essential that the couple lean on and keep trying, and that they know when to seek help.
However, if you want to know right away if there are infertility problems, your doctor should be contacted for a health evaluation to identify if there are fertility problems. See what tests are used to assess the cause of infertility in the partner.