Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

"Can't get pregnant? Should I do BBT charts? What about home LH monitoring? Are there any natural treatments for infertility? What are the female causes of infertility? Are there any ovarian function tests to tell if I'm too old to conceive? What are the causes of male infertility? What does it cost for fertility treatment? Does insurance help? What kind of infertility support is available for those of us who are trying? What is availble to treat infertility in Indianapolis, Indiana? Are you one of the premier Fertility Clinics in Indiana?"

These are many of the typical questions Dr. McLaughlin and his staff at Women's Specialty Health Centers hear every day. If you wish, a free RN consult is available by calling 866-322-2263. Your specific circumstances should be evaluated individually, but in general there are some guidelines to help you.

Infertility is defined as being unable to conceive after a year of regualr, unprotected intercourse (if the woman is less than 35 yrs old) or after 6 months if she is over 35. There are usually a combination of factors, which include ovulation disorders, mechanical abnormalities, and male factors.

A Basal Body Temperature (BBT) chart is an inexpensive way to determine if you are regularly releasing an egg. Another way is with home LH releasing monitoring. When undergoing ovulation induction with Clomid or FSH injections, usually a serum progesterone is ordered in the luteal phase about a week after presumed ovulation.

To assess mechanical abnormalities in the female, Dr. McLaughlin obtains your history and performs a complete general and pelvic exam. Pelvic ultrasound may specifically show ovarian cysts, fibroid tumors, or endometrial polyps, which may be subsequently confirmed and possibly treated with outpatient laparoscopy or pelviscopy. A pelvic X-ray, hysterosalpingogram (HSG), is ordered infrequently, due to the inherent discomfort and risk of subsequent infection following the procedure.

For male factors, a semen analysis, performed in our adjacent office-based IVF lab, critically analyzes the male's fertility potential. Further DNA function tests are available to determine the possibility of additional pathology, such as scrotal varicose veins, known as a varicocele.

Two common conditions affecting the ability to conceive are endometriosis and polycystic ovaries (PCO). These diseases are usuallys suspected by history (symptons include menstrual cramps, pain with intercourse, irregular periods, abnormal hair growth, etc.), then confirmed by pelvic exam, ultrasound, and/or endoscopic exam (laparoscopy). Dr. McLaughlin feels surgical treatment of endometriosis helps you more rapidly conceive with markedly fewer side effects from the drugs currently available to treat endometriosis.

Often patients with PCO have secondary amenorrhea due to lack of adequate ovulation. Often the LH releasing monitor is ineffective for those patients with PCO. Metformin or Glucophage is usually recommended to treat your polycystic ovaries, as it helps you conceive, reduces your chance of miscarriage and potentially developing diabetes during your pregnancy. Ovulation induction with Clomid or FSH, with follicle monitoring by ultrasound, helps enhance your ability to recruit and release a fertilizable egg. Sometimes, the cysts will need to be decompressed with the laser during laparoscopy. Dr. McLaughlin is available to discuss specific recommendations to help you conceive as quickly as possible.