Infertility treatment

A diagnosis of infertility doesn't touch on the heartache, the worry and the frustration associated with not being able to have a child. Working with your HonorHealth fertility specialist can help you gain confidence in treatment options available to you.

After a thorough review of your health history and test results, your fertility specialist will recommend specific fertility treatments based on:

Depending on the underlying cause and other factors, your infertility may be treated with:

• A variety of medications, depending on your fertility issues: Some drugs treat a hormone imbalance or a short menstrual cycle. Others are antibiotics to eliminate an infection. Other medications stimulate ovulation, which can result in the risk of multiple births.
• Surgery: Minimally invasive surgery or hysteroscopy can remove adhesions (scar tissue) and fibroids from your uterus, endometrial tissue from the uterus and/or pelvic area, and remove blockages from your fallopian tubes. Surgery also may be able to remedy a uterus that is misshapen.

Fertility surgery using sophisticated robotics and minimally invasive techniques can be performed at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea and Thompson Peak medical centers.

• Egg donation: This can help you if your ovaries don't function correctly, but your uterus is normal. The process involves removing eggs from the ovary of a donor who has taken fertility drugs. After in vitro fertilization, your doctor places the fertilized eggs into your uterus.
• Artificial insemination: Sperm is inserted into your cervix or uterus at the optimum point in your cycle with the goal of producing a pregnancy.
• Assisted reproductive technology: Also known as ART, this includes all fertility treatments in which eggs and embryos are handled outside the body. Medication and intrauterine insemination often are used at the same time. Some procedures involve placing fertilized eggs into your fallopian tubes.

With in vitro fertilization, your fertility specialist stimulates egg production, harvests them and combines them with specially prepared sperm in a lab. The doctor then places an agreed-upon number of growing embryo(s) in your uterus. If more than one embryo is placed in the uterus, you could have a multiple birth.

Trying to have a child can be challenging, both physically and emotionally. Know that your HonorHealth fertility specialist will support you throughout the process, offering his/her best advice and expertise to help you reach your goal.

Fertility preservation

HonorHealth gynecologists can help you preserve your eggs if you're facing ovary removal due to cancer.