For many couples, infertility can be overwhelmingly frustrating, but modern medical science offers a host of treatments that can help couples who are having trouble conceiving due to male or female infertility. Our practice is committed to helping couples affected by multiple miscarriage, endometriosis, and other fertility problems in the Dallas area. For patients who are concerned about the transmission of genetic diseases, we offer PGD. Our Frisco and Plano clinics near Dallas, operated by fertility expert Dr. James Douglas, uses the newest and most effective treatments to help families who need it.
For those couples affected by endometriosis, fallopian tube damage, low sperm count, ovulation disorders, and other causes of infertility, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may offer the best opportunity to conceive a child. An important part of the IVF process for couples who are carriers of genetic disease, however, is preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).
PGD requires genetic testing performed at Presbyterian of Plano ARTS Department on embryos before they are selected for implantation. The embryologist isolates a single cell from each embryo, which is then tested for chromosomal abnormalities and genetic diseases such as Down’s syndrome and muscular dystrophy. Using PGD, it is possible to identify the healthiest embryos for transfer, making it more likely that IVF will result in a healthy child.
PGD has almost incalculable value for couples who are carriers of genetic disorders and at high risk of passing those disorders on to their children. PGD at IVF Plano, near Dallas, helps these couples avoid the difficult decision of whether to carry a fetus with a serious condition to term or terminate the pregnancy and try again. By submitting to PGD tests, couples can rest assured that their children will not be affected by debilitating genetic conditions and will have the opportunity to lead normal, healthy lives.
Low sperm count and abnormal semen are among the most common causes of male factor infertility. Available treatment options include:
Once the sperm has been collected, it will be prepared to improve the odds of conception. Sperm washing, a technique in which the sperm is freed from the seminal fluid to maximize its mobility, is one option.
Another option is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In ICSI, a single sperm is picked up and injected into an egg to promote fertilization. If the egg is fertilized, the embryo is then transferred into the uterus.
Female factor infertility has many causes, including hostile cervical mucus, ovarian failure, endometriosis, and tubal blockage. Fortunately, there are treatments for many of the causes of female infertility.
Endometriosis, a condition in which the uterine lining (endometrium) grows elsewhere in the body, affects about one in five women of reproductive age. It is the most common cause of female infertility.
Normally, the uterus sheds the endometrial lining during menstruation, but when this tissue grows elsewhere (as it does in endometriosis), the body is often unable to shed it. Endometrial tissue sometimes grows in the fallopian tubes, where it creates a blockage that prevents eggs from entering the uterus for normal fertilization. There is no known cure for endometriosis, but there are numerous medications and surgical procedures available to Dallas-area patients at our practice that can help control it.
There are a variety of hormonal treatments for endometriosis available at our Dallas-area clinic. They work differently, but all focus on changing the body’s hormone balance in order to impair the growth of excess endometrial tissue. GnRH agonists, which control estrogen production in the body, are a commonly used example.
In some cases, patients with endometriosis must undergo surgery to remove endometrial tissue. In many cases, those who undergo surgery no longer experience the pain associated with endometriosis. Many patients are able to conceive normally after surgery for endometriosis.
Hopeful parents who experience multiple miscarriage are often devastated. However, the causes of multiple miscarriage are often treatable. The reason for the miscarriages is first determined, then a treatment plan is started. A high percentage of these couples are able to have children.
As women age, they grow less fertile. Eventually, they go through menopause and are no longer able to conceive. Some women, however, find that they are unable to conceive much earlier – often before the age of 40. The cause may be premature ovarian failure or a diminished ovarian reserve. In the first condition, the ovaries simply stop ovulating because there are no eggs left; in the second, women grow less fertile as their ovaries’ egg reserve is depleted.
For a woman affected by either condition to become pregnant, a donor egg with in vitro fertilization may be necessary. In other cases, hormone therapy can improve fertility, allowing a woman to become pregnant naturally.
Some infertile women are affected by irregular ovulation, in which the ovaries do not release eggs. This condition is most often caused by abnormal hormonal conditions. Anovulation is most frequently caused by PCOS, thyroid disease, medications, excessive exercise, or obesity. In some cases, anovulation can be treated simply by addressing the underlying cause. In others, fertility drugs are the answer.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive disorder that may cause infertility. The ovaries of women affected by PCOS have multiple small cysts, which cause them to produce an excessive amount of a male hormone, testosterone, which throws off the hormone balance, interfering with ovulation. Oral contraceptives are often used to correct the hormone balance, and fertility drugs are used for those women trying to conceive. The diabetes medication Metformin® is also appropriate for some women affected by PCOS.
Some women are infertile because their fallopian tubes are blocked, preventing eggs from traveling from the ovaries to the uterus. Tubal blockage is known as a hydrosalpinx when the area behind the blockage is filled with fluid. This is usually caused by a previous infection, endometriosis, or scar tissue from previous surgeries. In some cases, the blockage can be opened surgically, and in others the best option for successful conception is in vitro fertilization.
To learn more about other male and female infertility treatments we offer, including PGD and endometriosis treatments, contact our Frisco- and Dallas-area practice today.
Contact us to learn more about infertility treatment for endometriosis, PGD, multiple miscarriage, make infertility, and more. Our Plano practice near Dallas and Frisco has convenient hours to serve you.
James W. Douglas, M.D.
4001 West 15th Street, Suite
425
Plano, Texas 75093
Phone: (972) 612-2500