The Infertile Couple
Having a family is something that has been taken for granted by many people. Most of the pregnancies in our world come unplanned and unexpected; this is not the case for everyone.
For many men and women infertility is a real issue, and the couples with children will never understand their struggles. The planning of a pregnancy can create stress and make it harder to conceive, but once the couple has tried to get pregnant for a year they can be considered infertile by most doctors and will need to undergo testing. The thought that the pale green nursery with puffy white clouds painted on the walls may never be used can be devastating.
Finding out
Once a couple has decided that enough time has gone by and their doctors agree, the testing should be done to determine if they are indeed infertile. The results can change their lives dramatically. The female will normally be the first one tested, to determine there are no other medical conditions causing the inability to become pregnant. If the female shows no signs of blockage in the fallopian tubes, or other dysfunctions with her reproductive organs, then the male will be tested to determine his sperm count and their activity level.
The Options
If once the tests are complete and one or both are diagnosed as being infertile, they will be offered options to help them in starting a family. There are medications that can be taken to help with minor issues, or to clear up medical conditions causing the infertility. The major issues that cannot be reversed with help of medication will need to explore other options.
The couple may look into assisted reproductive technologies to help them start their families. The cost can be high and the success rates sometimes low, but if successful, will give the couple the start to their family, and that is usually enough to outweigh the cost.
The success rate can vary depending on the situation of the couple, the reason the couple is infertile can make it harder to succeed, and age, race, and lifestyle can sometimes have an effect. The older a woman is, the harder it is for her to become pregnant and carry to full term with a healthy baby, so the age can be a huge factor to consider when deciding if assisted reproductive technology is right for you.
The lifestyle of the couple can have a hand in deciding if the procedures will work as well, if you smoke, drink, or use drugs, your chance for success become slightly lower than that of a healthy couple who cares for themselves.
Deciding whether or not to go ahead with an artificial insemination or other procedure will be a tough one for any couple. The cost even though expensive, is not completely unaffordable, and some insurance companies are now helping to at least cushion those costs. The success rate while not the highest is not low enough that you would expect to come out empty handed, at the high 37% and the low 16% for couples depending on their situations, it is not unreasonable to think that you will be happy with the results.
You want a family, and yes, it is not fair that you have planned and prepared a life that would provide for a child quite well, while others who cannot afford their rent are popping out babies left and right and you are struggling with infertility. The bottom line is, you deserve a child, and you know this, and with that said, the cost will not matter to you once you have seen the beautiful results that can come from it.
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