The best fertility option
Written by Michael Vass
Interesting news for those couples looking to add to their families but having difficulty. While medical technology has advanced significantly in the past 2 decades, and news of families using various methods to become pregnant has become headlines and television shows there is evidence that anything beyond natural sex is a waste of time, money and effort.
A recent study, published in the British Journal of Medicine, looked at 580 women that were having infertility issues. The women were split into 3 roughly even groups and watched over 6 months.
One group of women were told to use the fertility drug clomifene (also known as Clomid or Clomifert). The drug is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and had the known side effects of hot flashes, abdominal discomfort, visual blurring, and/or reversible ovarian enlargement and cyst formation. Extreme cases are known to have abnormal uterine bleeding, nausea, and/or vomiting, reversible alopecia, and/or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Of this group 26 or 14% were able to become pregnant.
Another group of women were told to use artificial insemination where sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female. This concept was first developed for the dairy cattle industry. Costs range from $500 and up for each attempt at insemination, which can be very costly over repeated attempts. Of this group 43 women or 23% became pregant over the 6 month period.
The last group of women were advized to increase their sexual activity with their partner. That group had success rates of 32 women or 17% of the 193 in the group.
It was found that while the numbers for artificial insemination were higher, they did not reach a difference that was significant enough to be considered.
So what can we take from this? Perhaps one thing.
A nice dinner costs about $150 for 2, satin sheets another $70. Flower about $50. a nice music CD $20. Total cost is $290 and a great atmosphere. That’s a savings of $210 (or more since the CD and sheets don’t need to be repurchased and the meal can be just as good and cost a little less).
The result of this relaxed night are equal to artificial insemination, according to the study and I have to imagine far more pleasant. There are no negative side effects like the drug, and there are definite health benefits – it’s a cardio workout that burns tons of calories.
So just have a nice night, and stop stressing. You won’t be any worse off than any other method.
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April 29th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
My first instinct is to say “f#$*, you!”.
I think this might be true for some couples experiencing some fertility issues after trying for a short time, but what about people who have tried for a while, have diagnosed with some sort of medical issue, etc?
I guess I’d need to see the full study to see how they control for those things. My partner and I “relaxed” and had timed and frequent romantice evenings for well over a full year efore we even got worried. Nwo we have been trying with some minor medical intervention for 9 months. Believe me, I’d much rather relax.
July 29th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Infertiity issues are a difficult cross to bear. I like to encourage couples that are trying to acheive to arm themselves with knowledge. Chart you fertility signs with the Novuscor fertility management software program “FertileView”. It is an interpretive software program that teaches individual cycle education. When couples understand the optimal time to acheive their chances are higher for trying to acheive. Charting your cycles can give you other clues as to what may be contributing to the problem such as low temps may indicate a thyroid issue and a short luteal phase may indicate a progesterone issue which can contribute to miscarriage. Excellent nutrition program and an exercise program along with specific supplements can be very helpful as well.
November 7th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Interesting post. I agree that it’s true that a lot of people get so hung up about conceiving that they give up too easily and assume they have fertility problems. Also a lot of fertility doctors don’t do enough investigation into the actual underlying causes of conception difficulties. Clomid seems to be the ‘easy way out’ and many couples should try the basics a bit harder first.