Ready To Make Pregnancy Dreams A Reality?
Having difficulties getting pregnant can be emotionally distressing for couples hoping to start a family. Some couples even lose hope, but there are ways to make the dream possible. Doctors can help with a range of infertility treatments. Some circumstances can benefit from fertility medications and intrauterine insemination (IUI), where a sperm sample is medically injected into the uterus during ovulation. Other cases attempt in vitro fertilization (IVF), an advanced form of reproductive treatment. At the center of treatment are fertility medications, which can increase the chances of pregnancy.
Your treatment needs fertility medications
Hormone imbalances or ovulation disorders are some of the most common underlying causes of infertility. Fertility drugs are considered a common first step for women struggling to conceive. The medical team or a fertility specialist will confirm hormone disorders with blood tests plus a study of the patient's reproductive history. Women will receive oral or injectable hormone medication to regulate ovulation or improve egg production. Some women or couples can benefit from IVF, which requires fertility medications to produce enough eggs for embryo production. Different types of fertility drugs serve specific roles during treatment. These work together to increase the chances of success.
What are the common fertility medications?
Oral clomiphene citrate is a common drug used to regulate or improve ovulation. This drug increases hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by binding to estrogen receptors. Consistent use can help women with ovulation issues become pregnant. Injectable gonadotropins boost FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) production, which helps multiple follicles to mature. Other injectable hormones called antagonists prevent a premature release of the eggs, while a trigger shot of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is used right before harvesting. During treatments like IVF, fertility drugs like progesterone help prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy. Each infertility case is different. The fertility team will prescribe the best possible fertility medications to produce optimal results.
What should you expect?
Patients receive the required medication, which must be taken as directed. Some oral medications are for a few days. Injectable hormone medications must be taken at the same time for 8-14 days. These drugs are preserved at specific temperatures, and the patient should not miss doses. For IVF, hormone tests and ultrasounds will help gauge the success of the fertility medications. These drugs are designed to improve ovulation function or increase egg production, but there are side effects. Headaches, nausea, and menopausal-like symptoms are common, while ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a painful side effect that must be addressed. Discuss the benefits, risks, and side effects of these fertility medications with a healthcare provider.
Optimizing your success with a specialty pharmacy
Increasing the chances of success depends on consistency. A specialty pharmacist can help patients with successful hormone therapy. These pharmacies dispense custom medication in practices like fertility. Not only do specialty pharmacies provide fertility medication, but many guide and counsel patients. Some can manage the relationship between insurance, patient, and doctor, becoming a hub that saves time, money, and efficiency. Patients can focus on care while receiving the proper doses at the right time. Specialty pharmacies are becoming an important part of the process and can even influence success rates.
A lifelong dream realized
The many challenges to getting pregnant show no signs of slowing down. There are a growing number of couples who hope to achieve parenthood. However, hormone challenges and infertility cases continue to rise. Fertility medications, when used appropriately, can regulate the hormonal imbalances that may be responsible for infertility. Patients may need multiple fertility drugs over a specific timeframe to increase pregnancy rates or complete an IVF cycle. Use all resources, such as doctors, specialists, and specialist pharmacies, to optimize treatment and increase the chances of pregnancy.
