Appy · 3 min
Fertility treatment options
6 sections · 3 min read
What fertility treatment options are available to you?
Fertility treatment can feel overwhelming. There are many options, and the terminology can be confusing. This article breaks down the main treatments so you can understand what's available and what questions to ask your doctor.
What is ovulation induction and who is it for?
If you're not ovulating regularly (common in PMOS), medications can help stimulate your ovaries to release eggs. The most common is letrozole (now first-line for PMOS) or clomifene citrate. These are tablet-based treatments taken for 5 days each cycle.
Success rates vary, but approximately 70–80% of women with PMOS will ovulate with medication. Pregnancy rates are approximately 15–20% per cycle.
You'll need monitoring (blood tests and/or ultrasound) during treatment to check your response and reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy.
What is IUI (intrauterine insemination) and when is it used?
involves placing concentrated, prepared sperm directly into the uterus around the time of . It's less invasive than and can be used with or without -stimulating medication.
What is IVF and how does it work?
involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, collecting those eggs, fertilising them with sperm in a laboratory, and then transferring an embryo back into the uterus.
The process typically takes 4–6 weeks per cycle and involves: • Daily hormone injections for 10–14 days • Regular monitoring with blood tests and ultrasound • Egg collection (minor procedure under sedation) • Embryo transfer (usually painless, no sedation needed) • A two-week wait before pregnancy test
Average success rate per cycle (using own eggs): approximately 29% for women under 35, declining with age. Success also depends on the underlying cause of infertility.
What is ICSI and how is it different from IVF?
(Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is a variation of where a single sperm is injected directly into each egg. It's used when male factor infertility is significant, low sperm count, poor motility, or when sperm has been surgically retrieved.
has similar success rates to standard . It has made parenthood possible for many couples who previously had no options.
How much do fertility treatments cost and how do you access them?
Some couples travel abroad for treatment (India, Turkey, Spain, Czech Republic). This can reduce costs but carries risks, research clinics carefully, check success rates, and understand what follow-up care will look like back in the UK.
Ask your doctor what's available in your area. Don't assume you won't qualify, ask.
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Reviewed by clinicians
Authored and reviewed by clinicians from the founding team. Information only, not personalised medical advice.