For many women, irregularity with the menstrual cycle contributes to infertility issues. Without a regular cycle, ovulation and conception are difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. The drug Provera is given to get the menstrual cycle going. Provera actually has several uses related to female health, although it is often known for starting a stalled menstrual cycle. It may also be described for abnormal bleeding, treating endometriosis, pre menstrual symptoms and menopausal symptoms. The exact dosage and instructions will vary from woman to woman. Provera comes in dosing options of 2.5, 5 or 10 mg. The best dosage for you … Continue reading →

One of the biggest side effects of taking fertility drugs is the emotional aspect. Women taking fertility drugs often report mood swings as severe as those experienced during pregnancy. This takes a toll on the woman and her partner. It should come as no surprise that fertility drugs cause mood swings. Remember that all fertility drugs change the hormone levels in the body, specifically estrogen. This change in hormone levels is responsible for the ups and downs of your mood. Some women find the intensity of the mood swings surprising. They tend to come on suddenly and can be provoked … Continue reading →

If your doctor prescribes fertility medications, you may be given human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This medication is not used alone for the treatment of infertility. HCG is used in the same cycle as other fertility medication injections, such as gonadotropins. Human chorionic gonadotropin is given after you have completed the series of injections. HCG is used to help induce ovulation. It works by communicating with the ovaries to release the eggs that have matured. The gonadotropin injections taken earlier in the cycle work by encouraging the ovaries to produce eggs. This mimics the surge of follicle stimulating hormone released by … Continue reading →

If you are trying to conceive, your doctor may prescribe injections of fertility medications. These medications are also used in conjunction with infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination. The drugs work by stimulating the ovaries to produce more follicles. The injections are given at home for seven to ten days, depending on how your body responds to the treatment. In most cases, the woman’s partner gives the injections. Your doctor will bring you and your partner into the office to teach you both the proper procedure. It is very normal for husbands or partners to feel … Continue reading →

Progesterone is a hormone that is necessary for preparing the lining of the uterus for implantation and to support the pregnancy in the early weeks. For various reasons, some women don’t make enough progesterone naturally for this important function. In this case, progesterone supplements will be prescribed. Inadequate progesterone levels can be detected via a blood test shortly after ovulation. An ultrasound scan is often done if you are under treatment for infertility to check the lining of the uterus. If a progesterone deficiency is suspected or blood tests come back low, an endometrial biopsy may be done to get … Continue reading →

Vaginal ultrasound is used for follicular ultrasound because it gives a better view than the abdominal method. This is generally done in the office of your infertility specialist and only takes a few minutes. A slim probe is inserted in the vagina to get an image of the pelvic area. You will see the image on a small television screen. The follicular ultrasound allows your doctor to view all the structures in the pelvis, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. This is a very useful tool for letting your doctor observe follicular development. He will also be able to … Continue reading →

Most couples undergoing infertility treatments set limits for how long they will try. Sometimes the limit is a number of months or years. More common is a limit which procedures will be tried and how many cycles each procedure should be done. There are many factors to consider in this decision. The expense of some procedures, such as Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) affects the limits you set. You may wonder if it is worth the cost to try a second time, or if you don’t get pregnant in the first cycle, is it worth it to try again. According to … Continue reading →