Infertility with Dr. Thorneycroft

If you dream of motherhood but are having difficulty conceiving, look no further than Bay Area Physicians for Women for help. Dr. Ian Thorneycroft is the only physician board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility practicing full time in the Mobile area. He will introduce you to the wide range of treatments available to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.

At Bay Area Physicians for Women, we use the latest medical technologies to give you the best chance of motherhood. These include laparoscopy, treatment of endometriosis, reversal of tubal ligation, artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Shortly, we will perform tubal re-anastamoses with robotically assisted laparoscopy.
1 in 7 couples experience some form of infertility. Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse.

How do I begin?
Testing is the first step in the process and involves both the male and the female for a thorough evaluation. After a diagnosis, your physician will discuss the best treatment options for your individual case. Sometimes, a specific cause cannot be found, and those patients fall under the “unexplained infertility” category.

What are some of the causes of infertility?
Tubal blockage, Endometriosis, cervical factor, ovulation problems, pelvic adhesions and male factor.

Which treatments does Dr. Thorneycroft perform?
Dr. Thorneycroft performs a wide range of infertility treatments, ranging from ovulation induction to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Infertility treatment is all about identifying obstacles to conception and working through them.

I’ve heard of couples trying “fertility drugs”. What does that mean?
“Fertility drugs”, as they are commonly called, can refer to medications such as Clomid and Femara (taken orally) as well as many brands of Follicle Stimulation Hormones (injected). All medications are given to women in order to increase egg production, except in the case of women who do not ovulate, they are given to induce ovulation.

What are the chances of having a multiple birth after undergoing fertility treatments?
The chances of carrying multiples increases depending on the specific treatment or combination of treatments a patient undergoes. The chances of a multiple birth are highest with the injections. About 5-10% of Clomid and Femara pregnancies are twins with triplets being rare. The multiple birth rate is higher with injections but can be avoided by not ovulating patients when ultrasounds shows the potential for multiple births.

Are infertility treatments expensive?
Many therapies are inexpensive. The shots and IVF can run $1,000 to $10,000 per attempt. The couple must also consider how expensive a child is to raise to put these expenses into perspective.

INFERTILITY TREATMENTS: THE BASICS
HSG – An HSG (hysteroalpingogram) in an x-ray of the inside of your fallopian tubes and uterus. An HSG is used to help find out if your fallopian tubes are open.

Ovulation induction – The ovaries are stimulated through medication to mature one or more eggs.

Intro Uterine Insemination (IUI) – Sperm are prepped for optimal performance and inserted directly into the uterus. Problems with low sperm counts and cervical problems can be overcome with this technique.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) – Conception takes place outside the woman’s body, and the embryos are then transferred to the uterus. Primarily used with problems with the fallopian tube, unexplained infertility and low sperm count.

IVF was first introduced in the United States in 1981. Since that time thousands of babies have been born through IVF.