Infertility: Questions to Ask About Medicine or Hormone Treatment

Topic Overview

When considering whether to try medicine or hormone treatment for infertility, ask:

• Whether there are any possible long-term risks related to the proposed treatment.
• Whether you need to change your sexual activities during treatment. Your doctor may have suggestions for timing sex to increase the possibility of becoming pregnant.
• How long this type of treatment is recommended before it's thought to be ineffective. Continuing treatment when it is unlikely that you are going to conceive delays your ability to consider other options such as adoption. You can set limits on how long you want to try it, and you can change your mind also.
• Whether a woman's age affects treatment options. For women 35 or older, a doctor may switch treatments sooner to provide a couple with the best chance of becoming pregnant.
• About the success rate of the recommended infertility therapy for your specific problem. Medicine or hormone therapy is highly successful for some causes of infertility, such as failure to ovulate, but not for others.
• How much monitoring is required for the recommended therapy. Some treatments require daily monitoring at the doctor's office. You must determine whether you can work around the necessary monitoring schedule.
• About your doctor's experience with medicine and hormone therapy for infertility. This type of infertility treatment requires careful diagnosis, dosage, and monitoring. Your doctor should have specific training and experience in this area.