Seeking Medical Treatment for Infertility

Having a child is a lifetime ambition for most people, but unfortunately some couples run into problems in fulfilling this goal. People have tried to treat infertility in a number of different ways, through diet, exercise, prayers and medical treatments. Advancements in the field of medicine have led to the development of techniques like in vitro fertilization, which give hope to childless couples. Most childless couples who receive treatment at fertility clinics can go on to have children.

What causes infertility?
Infertility affects a certain percentage of the population, though its causes are not well understood. About 8% of all couples and about 12% of all married women have trouble in conceiving a child or in carrying a pregnancy to term. The causes of infertility are still not clearly understood, though nearly every culture has developed folk wisdom and treatments.
Studies show that in cases of infertility, about a third are due to the female partner and a third to the male partner. The remaining third cannot be explained, or are due to a combination of factors. For most couples, having a child is one of the most fulfilling experiences of their lives. In our time, medical help and treatment at fertility clinics can help most childless couples to conceive.

Understanding fertility
Even in the ordinary course of things, conceiving a child can be a difficult matter. For couples in the age range 29 to 33, when most people are ready to become parents, there is only a 20 to 25% chance of conceiving each month. For women, fertility begins to decline by the time they are 30 years old. The process speeds up after 35.
The age of maximum fertility for women is between 20 and 24 years of age. However, given the constraints of our culture and way of life, that’s not an easy time for young people to start a family. At that age, young people are faced with the tasks of completing their education and establishing their careers. It is only in their late twenties and early thirties that couples feel ready to welcome a child into their lives and to start a family.

Medical help for infertility
Over the years, couples seeking to have children have tried a whole range of practices, from special diets and exercises to prayers and pilgrimages. Medical treatments for fertility can help in about two thirds, or 65% of cases where couples seek help from fertility experts. About 44% of women who have trouble conceiving or completing pregnancy seek medical help at fertility centers.
The vast majority of cases, anywhere from 85 to 90%, can be treated using drug therapy or surgical procedures. To help couples seeking infertility treatments, many states require medical insurance policies to cover the costs. Fifteen states have passed such legislation. These are: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia.

For most couples, having a child is one of the most fulfilling and cherished goals of their lifetime. Infertility can hamper such ambitions and lead to distress and unfulfilled lives. With medical treatment from fertility clinics, couple have a good chance of conceiving and bringing a longed for child into their lives.