Page 20 - April Issue

getting ready | fertility

doctors, friends and family
because they aren’t perceived
as truly infertile since they’ve
already had children.

mother, baby & child April 2011 Causes primary infertility, points out action, with Clomid being the
Dr Bajirova. “The most suitable most commonly prescribed
In general, Dr Bajirova asserts treatment will depend on the fertility drug. “If the fertility
that the causes of secondary cause of secondary infertility,” drugs prove ineffective, then
infertility are mostly the same she says and in cases where the intrauterine insemination (IUI)
as for primary infertility. “Firstly, fallopian tube is blocked or the or artificial insemination can
it is possible that a woman had woman has been diagnosed be attempted,” she explains,
an underlying health problem as suffering from fibroids or adding, “IUI is also used for
when she conceived before, endometriosis deposits but is couples affected by mild
but fortunately it did not affect otherwise in possession of a endometriosis, problems
conception on that occasion,” healthy reproductive tract, then with ovulation, mild male
she says, “These problems laparoscopic surgery can be factor infertility and cervical
include an ovulation disorder performed. factor infertility.” Intrauterine
caused by polycystic ovaries insemination has very little
or polycystic ovarian syndrome However if the woman is chance of working in women
(PCOS), damage to the uterus young, her reproductive system over 37 years old or if the sperm
or fallopian tubes caused has been diagnosed as healthy count and motility are low.
by endometriosis or ectopic and her partner is producing
pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory high-quality semen, then she In Vitro Fertilisation, or IVF,
disease (PID) which is usually points out that fertility drugs says Dr Bajirova is indicated
caused by a sexually transmitted are often the first course of when the tubes are blocked or
infection (STI) such as
Chlamydia, uterine adhesions
which have possibly been
caused by previous caesarean
section or an obstruction to
fertilisation or implantation
caused by fibroids.” In addition,
the male spouse may have
issues with semen quality
and ejaculation that were not
previously problematic. Age,
adds Dr Bajirova is another
factor that can contribute to a
decline in fertility. “As women
get older, the quality of their
eggs decrease, and as men
age the semen quality can
decrease,” she elaborates. In
general, if a woman is over
35 and has been unable to
conceive after six months of
trying, she will probably need to
seek fertility treatment.

Modes of Treatment

The treatments for secondary
infertility are the same as for

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