What type of fertility treatment do I need?
Most people think that when they come in for fertility treatment, they will be told that their only option will be in vitro fertilization (IVF), and that the bill will be staggeringly high. The good news is that most TFC-SA patients do not need IVF in order to conceive. In fact, fewer than 30% of our patients eventually proceed to IVF. The overwhelming majority conceive with less aggressive, and less expensive, forms of treatment. The fertility treatment option that is right for you will depend on your medical history as well as your fertility evaluation.
It is true that IVF is the best fertility treatment for some couples.
However, most women who do not ovulate regularly will benefit from ovulation induction using inexpensive oral medications like clomiphene citrate or letrozole. These pills are taken for five days in the early part of the menstrual cycle. They usually cause ovulation to successfully occur, and pregnancy often occurs within the first few months of treatment. In fact, approximately 60% of women with ovulatory dysfunction will conceive within six cycles of either clomiphene or letrozole treatment.
Another less aggressive treatment is intrauterine insemination (IUI).
For couples who are struggling with mild to moderate male factor infertility, IUI will often be the recommended fertility treatment. IUI reduces the number of normal sperm required for fertilization to occur, and is a very effective treatment for many of our patients. The procedure is usually painless, and is timed to occur around the time of ovulation.
In addition to the medical treatments described above, some fertility problems are best treated surgically.
Some of these conditions include endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, uterine fibroids and uterine polyps. Most surgical procedures are covered by your insurance, as they frequently cause not only infertility, but also medical problems (such as pain and/or irregular bleeding) as well. Our financial counselors and surgery schedulers will work with both you and your insurance company to maximize your coverage and determine your financial responsibility prior to surgery.
Contrary to popular belief, most people have coverage for the procedures that are performed to diagnose infertility, and many also have coverage for some level of fertility treatment. Some insurance plans cover fertility medications, even if they do not cover fertility treatment; some plans cover pelvic ultrasounds or IUIs; most cover surgery, and some even cover IVF. At Texas Fertility Center, our billing specialists will help you understand your fertility coverage before your new patient visit so you will be prepared to discuss the details (and cost) of fertility treatment with your doctor and choose the right treatment for you.
Contact us to arrange for a new patient consultation with Dr. Munch or Dr. Hudson.