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One frequently asked question by couples planning on getting fertility treatment is how long a treatment can take. Fertility treatment timelines vary depending on the procedure. Understanding the treatment timeline can help you know what to expect and be better prepared for fertility treatment. Here is some information on the treatment timeline at infertility clinics:
Initial Consultation
The doctor reviews your medical history during your first appointment at the infertility clinic. During this session, your fertility doctor may want to know your fertility goal and whether you’ve previously undergone fertility treatment. The doctor also allows you to ask any questions you might have during the appointment.
Should you choose to continue treatment at a clinic, the doctor schedules the tests needed to assess your condition. Your fertility doctor may also schedule additional consultations with your general physician and other doctors to determine whether further medical issues affect your reproductive health.
Diagnostic Testing
This testing is necessary for identifying and treating infertility issues. Because many diagnostic tests for infertility depend on your menstrual cycle, testing may take longer depending on where you are in your cycle. Diagnostic tests in infertility clinics may include:
- Infectious disease blood work
- Hormone level testing
- Ovarian reserve testing
- Semen analysis in males
- Reproductive organ imaging
- Pelvic exam
Fertility clinics may conduct diagnostic tests before the initial consultation. This gives doctors the information they need to recommend treatment options at the first meeting.
Treatment Plan Development
Once your diagnostic test results are out, your doctor schedules an appointment to discuss their findings and recommend a course of treatment. If you agree to the recommended treatment, your doctor creates a comprehensive plan outlining the steps in the recommended procedure.
When your test results do not show any apparent cause of infertility, your doctor may ask you to continue trying for a baby through timed intercourse. Doctors may prescribe fertility medication for women with ovulation issues and men with low sperm production. Fertility doctors prescribe fertility medications such as Clomid and Letrozole for controlled ovarian stimulation. This treatment approach helps you ovulate more consistently, improving your chances of conceiving. Clomid also improves sperm production in men.
In some cases, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are the only solution to optimize your chances of conception. Below are some ARTs most infertility clinics offer:
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
IUI is an insemination procedure where the fertility doctor places concentrated sperm that have been washed into your uterus around the time you ovulate. This technique enhances the chance of pregnancy for couples with mild male factor infertility. Fertility doctors often perform IUI together with ovarian stimulation to optimize the timing of the procedure. The timeline of IUI depends on how quickly your follicles produce mature eggs. Your fertility doctor can perform IUI as early as a day after ovulation.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF is a more advanced fertility treatment where doctors join a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish. They then transfer the resulting embryo into the woman’s uterus. When successful, the embryo implants in the uterus and matures into a baby. One round of IVF may take a few weeks. This time frame may be extended if some steps in the process take longer.
Fertility doctors first administer ovarian stimulation medication to encourage the development of several eggs within the ovaries. Then, they collect the mature eggs and a sperm sample from your partner. Doctors fertilize your eggs with your partner’s sperm and monitor the development of the fertilized eggs for the next few days. They then transfer the healthiest viable embryo into the uterus.
You can take a blood test to check for pregnancy a few days after embryo transfer. If your pregnancy test is positive, your fertility doctor takes another blood test to confirm the first results. If the second test is positive, your fertility refers you to a gynecologist for continued care.
Visit Infertility Clinics for a Conclusive Treatment Timeline
You need to know what to expect when you and your partner are considering fertility treatment to make an informed decision on when to start treatment. Infertility clinics have different procedures for testing, diagnosing, and treating patients. It is best to schedule a consultation with your nearest infertility clinic to determine the timeline for their treatments
