What fertility treatments are there?

Fertility care is not one path. It is a set of tools that can be combined based on your age, diagnosis, timeline, and preferences. Most people start with simple steps and only move to more complex treatments if needed. The goal is to choose the least intensive option that gives you a real chance of success, then adjust based on how you respond.

The main treatment paths

‍Timed intercourse and ovulation induction. If ovulation is irregular or absent, a clinician may prescribe tablets that support ovulation, most commonly letrozole or clomiphene. These are usually taken early in the cycle and timed with intercourse or donor insemination. Monitoring can include ultrasound and blood work to check response and reduce the risk of multiples. This path is often used for ovulatory dysfunction, mild unexplained infertility, and as a first step for many couples.‍

Intrauterine insemination (IUI). IUI places prepared sperm directly into the uterus around ovulation. It can be paired with ovulation induction to boost the number of available eggs that month. IUI is often chosen for mild male factor, cervical factor, donor sperm use, and for single parents by choice or same-sex couples who want a lower-intervention start.‍

In vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF stimulates the ovaries to grow multiple follicles, retrieves eggs under light anesthesia, fertilizes them in the lab, and transfers an embryo back into the uterus. Some cycles use ICSI, where a single sperm is injected into each mature egg, usually for significant sperm issues. Embryos can be transferred fresh or frozen, and some patients opt for genetic testing of embryos before transfer. IVF is the most effective option for many diagnoses, including tubal factor, moderate to severe male factor, advanced reproductive age, and cases that have not responded to simpler treatments.‍

‍Egg or embryo freezing. If you want to preserve options for later, eggs or embryos can be frozen for future use. The process mirrors IVF up to the retrieval, followed by vitrification for storage. This is common for people planning pregnancy on a longer timeline, those facing medical treatments that could affect fertility, and couples who wish to build a family in stages.

Donor and third-party options. Donor sperm, donor eggs, and embryo donation are established routes to parenthood. Some families also work with a gestational carrier when carrying a pregnancy is not medically advisable. These options can be used on their own or combined with IVF.

Surgical care when needed. Targeted procedures can improve the uterine environment or address pain and inflammation. Examples include removing polyps or certain fibroids, treating endometriosis, correcting a uterine septum, or addressing blocked tubes. Surgery is not a cure-all, but when anatomy is the barrier, it can meaningfully improve the chance of success.

Choosing a path that fits your timeline

There is no universal sequence that works for everyone. Your age and diagnosis guide how quickly to move and how many attempts to try at each step. Many clinics will suggest a limited number of cycles with timed intercourse or IUI before moving to IVF if results are not where you want them to be. If you are using donor sperm or planning solo parenthood, your starting point may be IUI or IVF depending on age, ovarian reserve, and personal preferences. If you are not trying to conceive right now, fertility preservation is a meaningful way to keep options open.

Whatever route you take, partner health matters. A basic semen analysis early can prevent months of guessing, and lifestyle changes on either side can support outcomes. Whole-health checks like thyroid function, vitamin D, and insulin resistance are also relevant for some people and can be discussed with your clinician.

How Strawberry fits into treatment planning

Before you choose a treatment, it helps to understand where you are starting. Strawberry’s at-home panels give you hormone context without the clinic runaround, and every member receives a Personalized Fertility Timeline that turns results into next steps.

Choose the panel that fits your goal

Ovarian Reserve Blood Test (AMH). A quick look at egg quantity to inform planning, egg freezing conversations, or how aggressively to move through treatment.

Fertility Blood Test (AMH, FSH, Estradiol). Adds early-cycle context about brain-ovary signaling, helpful when deciding between timed intercourse, IUI, and IVF.

Women’s Health Panel. A broader hormone view when you want fertility insight alongside day-to-day hormone health like energy, sleep, mood, training, and symptoms.

Your results are reviewed by clinicians and explained in plain English. The goal is clarity. With your baseline in hand, you and your provider can pick a path, set a timeline, and adjust with confidence.

What to do next

If you want a fast first step, start with the Ovarian Reserve Blood Test. If you need timeline context for choosing between IUI and IVF, the Fertility Blood Test is a strong fit. If you prefer to connect fertility decisions with your wider hormone picture, choose the Women’s Health Panel. Whichever you pick, you will receive understandable results, your Personalized Fertility Timeline, and practical guidance you can use in your next consultation.