The goal of fertility treatment is to assist couples who are having difficulty conceiving a child. Whether issues of infertility are troubling the male or female in the relationship, fertility treatment can help these couples conceive and carry a child to term.

Drugs are almost always the first step in fertility treatment. Oftentimes, infertility in men and women alike arises from improperly balanced hormones. As the side effects for these drugs are relatively mild, doctors may prescribe them before reaching a specific diagnosis.

Sometimes used in conjunction with drug and hormone therapy, artificial insemination often increases couples’ odds of conception. In many cases, weak or insufficient sperm—while fertile—don’t have the energy to reach the egg. In cases like this, concentrated doses of sperm from the male partner can be deposited in the uterus to dramatically improve chances for conception.

When the body simply cannot accommodate fertilization (due to irreparably blocked fallopian tubes or seminal vesicles, for example), in vitro fertilization is a proven, though more expensive, option. In this procedure, sperm and eggs from the couple are combined in a laboratory. Once fertilization occurs, the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus where it develops naturally.

Surgery is sometimes necessary in fertility treatments, though this is rare. Fallopian tubes may need to be widened, or ovarian cysts removed. However, surgical treatments are minimally invasive and require very little recovery time. However, treatment can be lengthy and repeat checkups with a fertility doctor are almost always necessary.