Reprinted Articles

* Question: How do you test whether or not you are fertile?

On your first visit to a fertility specialist you will receive an examination to determine to what extent the infertility problem exists. The fertility specialist usually begins with a physical exam. You will most likely be asked to provide a history of the medical and sexual histories of your partner and yourself.

Once this is done, your doctor will run some tests. It is general procedure for men to undergo semen specimen tests. In this test the sperm will be evaluated based on ejaculation volume, shape and movement (also known as motility). There may also be a need for additional tests among which may include hormone tests.

For a woman, the fertility specialist will try to determine whether or not she is ovulating properly every month. In order to determine this, she will need to either take her temperature and record it every morning along with cervical mucous texture using a home kit for testing ovulation. To check whether or not ovulation is occurring, you may need to take some additional tests. These tests may include blood tests to determine hormone levels and an ultrasound for checking the ovaries.

* Question: What medicines are used to treat infertility in women?

If a woman is experiencing ovulation problems, the drug Clomiphene Citrate is often prescribed. It is commonly used for women who are experiencing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or other disorders that cause ovulation problems.

The human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) is the medicine usually prescribed for women who do not ovulate because of pituitary gland problems. It acts directly on the ovaries to encourage ovulation.

Other ovary medications such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) are also sometimes prescribed for women with fertility problems. These medicines usually come in the form of injections.

Metformin is generally used to treat women with high levels of male hormones which interfere with ovulation. Metformin may be combined with FSH.

Another common fertility drug Bromocriptine is often prescribed for women having ovulation problems caused by high levels of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production.

* Question: Do insurance plans cover infertility treatments?

Even though there are insurance plans that cover infertility treatments, such coverage is generally dependent on where you live and the type of insurance policy you have. Presently, there are 12 states that have enacted laws requiring insurance providers to cover some form of infertility diagnosis and treatments, either fully or partially. These states are:

- Arkansas

- Texas

- Connecticut

- Hawaii

- Illinois

- Maryland

- Ohio

- Texas

- Illinois

- Hawaii

- Montana

- Montana

For each state above, the laws enacted may differ in their coverage in addition to the types of treatments that may be covered. If you need further information regarding insurance coverage for the treatment and diagnosis of infertility, search online for the The American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Once on their website, click on the link for State Infertility Insurance Laws.

Tags: Pregnancy