Various Treatment Options for IVF

Below is a very simplified chart of treatment options. Please note that this is a guide only and every patient/couple requires complete assessment and a diagnosis made, before treatment is offered. This Web Page is not designed as a gynaecology textbook but only to reinforce the availability of treatment options, many of which are quite simple. The remainder of the web pages focuses on the complex options because they require more detailed explanation.

CAUSE	INVESTIGATION	TREATMENT OPTIONS
Failure of Ovulation	Hormone Assessments	Fertility drugs (tablets or injections) Rarely ovum donation
Blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes	Laparoscopy Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)	Tubal microsurgery IVF
Endometriosis	Laparoscopy	Surgical/laser treatment Drug therapy IVF
Fibroids	Laparoscopy Hysteroscopy Ultrasound Scan	May not need treatment but if necessary, can be removed surgically, often laparoscopically.
Hostile cervical mucus	Post-coital test (PCT) Confirm ovulation Antisperm antibody test	IUI* IVF
Failure of sperm production	Initial semen analysis Hormone assessments Testicular biopsy	Surgical sperm collection (SSC) Donor sperm
Blocked/absent vas deferens	Scrotal examination Screen for cystic fibrosis	Unblock microsurgically SSC with IVF/ICSI
Low sperm numbers and / or poor sperm movement	Semen analysis ("sperm count")	IUI, IVF or ICSI
High numbers of abnormal forms	Semen analysis	IVF or ICSI
Antisperm antibodies	Antisperm antibody screen	Steroids now rarely used. Sperm preparation for IUI, IVF or ICSI

Benefit of Therapy

IVF is an elective medical treatment. IVF may provide a couple who has been otherwise unable to conceive with a chance to establish a pregnancy.

Please contact your doctor if any of the following occur:

Fever greater than 100.4°F that lasts     for more than two hours
Excessive vaginal bleeding
Unusual and increasing pelvic area     discomfort
Difficulty with urination or change in     bowel activity
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Sharp or shooting pains
Pain or burning during urination
Abdominal swelling
  Unusual back pain