Infertility Question And Answer... Understanding Infertility Tests And Treatments

*Question: How is infertility tested?
Before taking any fertility tests, a doctor will give you an examination to determine to what extent the infertility problem exists. The doctor usually starts with a physical exam and sexual and medical histories for both you and your partner.
After these examinations, your fertility specialist will begin some tests. Men usually undergo semen specimen tests where the sperm will be evaluated based on its quantity per ejaculation, its shape, and its movement (also known as motility). Some doctors will give other tests such as hormone tests.
For a woman, the doctor will try to discover whether she is ovulating properly every month. To determine this, she will be asked to either record her temperature every morning and her cervical mucous texture or may be able to simply use a home ovulation test kit. To check whether or not ovulation is ocurring, you may need to take some additional tests. These tests may include blood tests for hormone levels and ultrasound tests to check the ovaries.
*Question: How can you treat for infertility?
Treatment for infertility depends on the physical examination and test results. In most cases, 85 to 90 percent of infertility cases are treated with prescription drugs or surgery.
There are several different fertility drugs that can be taken by women having ovulation problems. However, it is essential that you speak with your physician and let him prescribe the right drugs for your situation. He is the best person to explain to you the possible side effects as well as the possible benefits.
Surgery can be done in cases where fertility problems are caused by damage or other problems in the reproductive organs of either the man or the woman.
*Question: Which fertility drugs are used in order to treat infertility in women?
If a woman is having problems with ovulation, the medication Clomiphene Citrate is often prescribed. This drug is commonly used for women who may be experiencing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or other disorders causing complications with ovulation.
The hMG (human menopausal gonadotropin is the drug generally prescribed for women who do not ovulate because of problems with pituitary glands. It acts directly on the ovaries to help stimulate ovulation.
Additional ovary medications such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) may also be prescribed for women experiencing fertility problems. These medications generally come in the form of injections.
Metformin is often used to treat women who have high levels of male hormones which create complications with ovulation. It is common for Metformin to be combined with FSH.
Another common fertility drug, Bromocriptine is often prescribed for women having complications with ovulation caused by high levels of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production.
*Question: Do insurance plans cover treatments I need for infertility?
While you will find insurance plans that cover infertility treatments, such coverage is usually dependent on where you live and the type of insurance policy you have. Presently, already 12 states have enacted laws that require providers of insurance to cover some form of infertility diagnosis and treatments, either fully or partially. These states are:
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- New York
- Ohio
- Rhode Island
- Texas
The laws enacted in the above states may differ in their requirements and the types of things that must be covered. For additional information regarding insurance coverage on diagnosing and treating infertility, look up the website of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and click on the State Infertility Insurance Laws link.

About the Author
Infertility expert Isabel Tagge gives expert advice on Ivf Treatment. As editor of Infertility-Tips.com, she offers infertility tips and writes Answers to Infertility Questions for PrettyG