There are two fertility treatment options.
• One treatment approach correct factors that cause infertility e.g. surgery. If they work, infertility should be reversed and a couple should be able to achieve one or more pregnancies.
• The other therapies are used to establish pregnancy in a treatment cycle without permanently correcting the underlying problem e.g. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Factors to consider when choosing a treatment
• Age of the woman.
• Likelihood that treatment will succeed (both to avoid futile treatment and to avoid putting patients through the rigorous and expensive treatments if they are unlikely to conceive)
• Cost of the treatment. Some of the treatment options in Kenya have a high-cost factor attached to them.
• Before a woman over a certain age is accepted she may be required to undergo extra medical tests to determine whether her heart can withstand the physical demands of pregnancy.
• Doctors may require psychological testing in order to gauge a patient‘s stability and ability to make the decisions needed to safely undergo complex treatment.
• Availability and willingness of both the man and the woman. Treatment involves the intimate participation of both partners.
• Religious, cultural and emotional factors such as whether it is acceptable to use third parties (such as semen and egg donors in the creation of children.
• If treatment options are not viable, the couple can be willing to seek adoption of a baby as an option.
Before you start any treatment, it is important to obtain the following from your doctor
1. A description of the treatment.
2. A reasonable estimate of your chances of becoming pregnant and delivering a live baby.
3. How established the treatment is in Kenya
4. The chance of a multiple-pregnancy and its risks for the mother and the pregnancy.
5. How much experience the program and its doctors have with the treatment. The risks of the treatment, including the risks of all medication and procedures.
6. An estimate of the fees for treatment, plus predictable charges not covered in standard fees.
7. Your options regarding the use of any eggs or embryos not used during your treatment.
8. Problems that may occur during pregnancy and how they may affect you.
9. Legal implications such as in cases of surrogacy which is currently not addressed in the current Kenyan constitution.
