Initial Treatments

After undergoing a physical exam and a fertility workup your healthcare provider may recommend that you begin treatment. If you have a problem with ovulation, your healthcare provider may recommend starting therapy with clomiphene citrate, a prescription medication used to induce ovulation. Clomiphene citrate usually comes in a pill, it's relatively inexpensive, and it's generally well tolerated. Therefore, it's generally considered the best initial treatment for most women whose infertility is due to ovulation problems.

Depending on your diagnosis, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery as an initial treatment. For example, when conditions like endometriosis or fibroids are diagnosed, the healthcare provider may recommend surgery first to correct problems that may be interfering with conception. In other cases, surgery may be reserved as a later option. Your healthcare provider will consider the specifics of your case when recommending a plan of care.

Planning ahead

Before you agree to undergo any kind of treatment, take some time to talk to your healthcare provider about its likelihood of success and its risks. You may also wish to inquire about a timeline for each phase of your treatment. That way, if a certain treatment isn't working, you'll know when it may be appropriate for you and your healthcare provider to consider more advanced treatments.

By thinking ahead, you and your partner may find it easier to make personal decisions during this difficult phase. It may even be helpful to create a personalized fertility plan to help put the medical, emotional, and financial aspects of your treatments into perspective.