Fertility Medication As A Vital Part Of Treatment
Struggling to conceive is nothing to be ashamed of. This issue is a growing trend, with 1 in 5 married women with fertility challenges. Doctors define infertility as the inability to conceive naturally after trying consistently for at least 6-12 months. Thanks to medical procedures like intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), pregnancy rates increased significantly. For IUI and IVF to be successful, couples require fertility medication. These drugs must be taken at the right time and in the correct dose for the best results. A basic understanding of the fertility medication process often improves the chances of success.
IUI vs IVF
IUI and IVF fall under a group of assisted reproductive strategies that help individuals or couples with fertility challenges. Intrauterine insemination occurs when a doctor places a prepared sperm sample directly into the uterus using a simple medical procedure. Doctors perform IUI around the woman’s ovulation to increase the chances of sperm reaching the egg. IVF is a more complex strategy that first involves extracting multiple eggs from a woman’s ovaries. The eggs are then combined with a provided sperm sample to create multiple embryos. The embryos are then transferred to the woman’s uterus using a simple medical procedure. IVF’s goal is to circumvent any challenges preventing natural fertilization and is especially useful when IUI fails.
Does IUI require fertility medication?
While there are cases of IUI performed without fertility medicine, patients will see higher success rates with some form of fertility therapy. For instance, both men and women may need clomiphene citrate, which can block estrogen receptors in the pituitary gland. For men, this may increase testosterone and other fertility hormones to improve sperm production and quality. For women, the medication helps to increase follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) production, improving follicle growth in the ovaries. Women may also use other drugs, like human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), to stimulate and trigger ovulation. Fertility medication improves the release of mature eggs at the optimal time to perform IUI.
IVF and fertility drugs
IVF is a more complex process and may need fertility medication at multiple stages. Women take most of the fertility drugs to control almost every step of the fertility process. However, men may require medication to improve sperm health. Fertility medication for women first involves gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. GnRH suppresses natural ovulation to set the stage for controlled stimulation and egg retrieval. Medications like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulate the ovaries to grow multiple follicles. Similar to IUI, doses of hCG are then required to trigger ovulation in time for the doctor to retrieve the eggs. Some women need progesterone to prepare the uterine lining for embryo implantation and maintain a healthy environment for pregnancy.
Medication management matters
The goal of fertility treatment patients is to take the correct medication at the appropriate doses and times. Missing medicines at any stage can lead to an unsuccessful or failed IUI or IVF cycle. In some cases, medication mismanagement can lead to unpleasant side effects. Medication management involves pharmacists, doctors, and fertility specialists working with patients at each stage. This team will determine the needs and create a custom plan. Pharmacists then ensure the patient gets the appropriate medicine at the right time while explaining the usage instructions. Other factors, such as managing side effects, are essential for each cycle.
Consider a pharmacy hub
Recently, fertility clinics and patients have been working with pharmacy hubs to help with additional fertility medication needs. A pharmacy hub is a group of experts that understand medical and administrative needs during the fertility journey. The patient may need help managing insurance, benefits, and other monetary tasks required for successful treatment. In some cases, the pharmacy hub can support medication management. The hub can deploy the initial doses of fertility medication to avoid missing the tight timelines and deadlines necessary for IUI or IVF. This added service can go a long way in improving patient outcomes.
Understand your fertility medication needs
IUI and IVF are now responsible for hundreds of thousands of births yearly. Due to factors like rising infertility and individuals opting to start family planning at later ages, the demand for these services will surely increase. Persons involved in fertility treatment must be prepared to take the proper medication at the right time. Fertility drugs create the conditions necessary for pregnancy. Working with pharmacists, hubs, doctors, and other stakeholders is vital to IUI and IVF success.
