Infertility is an extreme personal yet widespread problem. Often times, because couples are uncomfortable discussing issues they may be having, the general public does not realize how many women actually suffer from infertility. According to recent data, nearly 12% of all women have received infertility services at some point in their lifetime.
Additionally, one in every eight married couple will have trouble getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term. When looking at the causes of infertility, one-third of the cases are attributed to problems with the female partner, one-third are attributed to the male partner, and the other one-third is attributed to unknown reasons or a combination of reasons.
Almost half of all women who have experienced infertility will seek medical help, and 65% of those women are later able to give birth. The vast majority of infertility cases are treated with either medications or surgical options. Fertility in women naturally begins to drop around age 30 and by age 40, only about 40% of women will be able to get pregnant without some kind of fertility intervention.
Due to the widespread nature of this problem, many states are instituting laws that force insurance companies to cover fertility related expenses. So far this includes Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia.
When a couple first goes to a fertility center, they will undergo examines and tests to determine what is causing the infertility issues. From there, the doctor can suggest the best course of treatment given the specific issues they are experiencing. There are many different reasons a couple may suffer from infertility, so there is similarly, many different treatment options or suggestions the doctor may have for them.
After discussing your goals and problems with your fertility expert, you can make an informed decision regarding what you want to do next on the path to parenthood. For many IVF cost can be significant making it a hard decision to make. This is particularly true if you live in a state that does not require insurance companies to cover the procedures or medications.
Fertility centers specialize in these problems and procedures, so you can feel confident they have the experience and knowledge needed to help you achieve parenthood. While a primarily care physician can refer you to a fertility center or offer suggestions in the early stages, they do not have the specialized training or experience to help you through the entire process.
Fertility problems can place a great deal of strain on the relationship and the individuals. Women experiencing infertility may struggle with guilt, shame, or feelings of inadequacy. These feelings, however real, are not accurate to the situation. When infertility is caused by a medical problem or complication is not something that can be controlled. However, the fertility center may offer or recommend counseling to help get you through the process.
There are also support groups and online communities that can help women and couples find support and encouragement through the process as it come sometimes take years and multiple different procedures and medications. This can be emotional and physical exhausting, and it helps to have people that understand exactly what you are going through and can offer the support you need.