Infertility is the inability to achieve pregnancy following 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. While 60 percent of couples will conceive without medical assistance within six months of trying, one out of every eight couples struggles with infertility issues. Walnut Hill offers a personalized approach to the infertility treatment process and has an experienced team to offer support to couples battling infertility.

Infertility Treatment affects both partners equally

40 percent of infertility problems affect men and 40 percent affect women. The remaining percentages fall into unexplained infertility or are attributed to anatomical abnormalities, like misshaped fallopian tubes.

The infertility discovery process

The discovery process is most important when dealing with infertility. Once the root of the problem is discovered, the faster a couple is on the road to pregnancy.

“First things first, we have to make sure the sperm and the eggs are there, and they have the ability to meet,” says Dr. John Bertrand. “We start with a sperm analysis here at the office and have results quickly. The sperm analysis offers direct evidence quickly.”

The next step in the discovery process is a sonography screening, which is a non-invasive ultrasound that constructs images of the internal organs. Sonographies are conducted at Walnut Hill and help show any abnormalities, polyps, fibroids and more.

After a sonography screening, ovulation tests are usually conducted. “We also test your thyroid, your hormones, estrogen levels, and your ovarian reserve,” says Dr. Bertrand. Your ovarian reserve determines the capacity of the ovary to provide egg cells that are capable of fertilization resulting in a healthy and successful pregnancy.

Personalized infertility plans

Once the problem has been discovered, it’s time to make a plan. This, of course, comes with many variables, depending on age, how long a couple has been trying etc. For example, if a woman is in her late 30s and has been trying to become pregnant for a reasonable amount of time, it may be appropriate to send her straight to in vitro fertilization treatment. In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is the process of fertilization by extracting eggs, retrieving a sperm sample, and then manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish. The embryo(s) is then transferred to the uterus.

“If it makes sense for the client, we start out with ovarian hyperstimulation supplements and encourage timed intercourse or inter-uterine insemination in the beginning,” Dr. Bertrand says “This stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs and when timed correctly, can be highly effective.”

“This may go on for three to six cycles,” Dr. Bertrand explains. “If there are still no results by then, we will bring in our reproductive endocrinologists affiliated with Walnut Hill to look at further options.”

Each patient is unique and deserves individualized treatment. We choose the best plan of action to see how quickly we need to move to result in meeting each other in the delivery room as soon as possible. “I like to encourage my patients to understand that this is a mind and body connection experience,” Dr. Bertrand says.  If you can relax the mind, set a goal, and gain some confidence, the journey of infertility becomes brighter and more hopeful.”

We offer a full line of services for more successful pregnancies. These include:

• Sonography
• Laboratory and cultures
• Induced ovulation
• Donor egg and sperm programs
• Artificial insemination
• In vitro fertilization (IVF)
• Minimally invasive surgical procedures

Here at Walnut Hill, we have helped many patients dealing with infertility and we do everything we can to get them into the delivery room as fast as possible. Contact us to find out more about our infertility treatments and services.