Fertility treatments
Assisted Reproductive Technology - ART
Emotions and fertility treatments
Assisted conception refers to medical interventions used by fertility specialists and clinics to help couples with fertility problems to conceive a baby. It is estimated that around 10 to 15% of couples have some type of fertility problem during their reproductive years and of these about 20% are diagnosed with a physical problem that requires surgery or advanced interventions such as
IVF to assist conception. A physical infertility problem may be detected in the man or the woman or both partners, or a specific cause may never be found. You can read more in
About infertility and
testing for infertility.
There are many complex and varied treatments available to assist with conception and scientific advances are being made all the time. Depending on the results of
fertility tests and if a
cause is found treatments offered will depend on the diagnosis of what is thought to cause the infertility. If a cause is not known, most fertility specialists start with the simplest interventions and then progressively offer more complex treatments if the initial approaches do not work. Often a combination of different treatments is used. Only about 10 to 20% of couples require assisted reproductive technology or
ART, for example
IVF.
Fertility treatments
Natural fertility
Surgery
Artificial Insemination
Medications
Assisted Reproductive Technology - ART
Natural fertility
There is a growing trend for couples to try natural methods to help conceive a baby. This may be undertaken as an exclusive way to treat infertility or used in combination with fertility medical treatments. Taking a natural approach may entail attending a specialised natural fertility clinic or seeking the advice of a practitioner such as a Chinese herbalist and acupuncturist.