Pathway to Treatment | 3) Top 3 Things Doctors Consider When Determining Your Treatment Plan

When you're ready to take the next step in your fertility journey, how do doctors determine the right treatment plan for you? According to Generation Fertility's fertility specialist Dr. Ingrid Lai, there are three important factors to be considered.

1) The underlying cause of infertility

The first factor your medical team will consider is what is thought to be causing your difficulties conceiving. As mentioned in the previous blog in our Pathways to Treatment series, this is determined through an in-depth process of fertility testing. In general, infertility may be due to:

• Sperm health
• Uterine or tubal factors (e.g., polyps)
• Ovarian reserve (i.e., egg count)

Based on the root cause, some options may be ruled out - while others may be a better fit. For example, if a fallopian tube blockage is discovered through fertility testing, intrauterine insemination (IUI) is unlikely to be effective, and IVF may instead be the best option to consider as a treatment plan.

2) Predicted response to treatment

According to Dr. Lai, a second key factor is your predicted response to treatment, or in other words, how successful a treatment is expected to be. This is based on your fertility health and any prior fertility treatments. For example, if someone has had success with fertility medications to stimulate egg production, timed intercourse may be effective, and IVF may not yet be needed. Or, if a patient has a previous fertility treatment, the results seen from it provide insights into what may, or may not, work in the future. If the cause of infertility is not known, Dr. Lai recommends a stepwise approach.

3) Personal preferences and family planning goals

At the end of the day, this is your journey and your decision. Dr. Lai and her team ensure to gain a deep understanding of a patient's personal preferences and family planning goals before recommending a fertility treamtnet approach. "Family planning goals of each person are different," says Dr. Lai, nothing that "there are many personal, cultural, ethical, and financial factors that may be at play."

Every path to parenthood is unique. Our dedicated team of fertility specialists will guide you through the best approach to a healthy conception tailored to your specific needs and situation.