April 2, 2019

Infertility affects roughly 10 percent of women in the United States.¹ As a result, many seek help from fertility specialists and undergo treatments to help make their dreams of building a family come true. No matter which type of treatment is best suited for your specific situation, you should include taking a prenatal vitamin in your plan for pregnancy.

Prevalence of Infertility

Infertility is defined as not being able to become pregnant after one year of trying (or six months if a woman is 35 years or older).¹ It is a common problem for both men and women. In fact, roughly one-third of infertility cases are related to male infertility.¹ About 1.6 million women, ages 15 to 44 have trouble becoming pregnant or staying pregnant.¹

Types of Artificial Reproductive Treatments

Some women may be prescribed medication to help treat infertility or may seek artificial reproductive treatments (ART) in order to become pregnant. As a result, they may undergo one or more of the following treatments:

• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)¹ – This procedure, also called artificial insemination, is when a woman is injected with specially prepared sperm to help increase chances of conception.
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)¹ – This is the most effective ART. With IVF, a woman will take special medications to produce multiple eggs. Once mature, the eggs are retrieved and joined in a lab with sperm so fertilization can occur. After three to five days the embryos are transferred to a woman’s uterus.
• Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)¹ – This procedure is similar to IVF, but the zygote is transferred to a fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
• Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)¹ – This procedure also is similar to IVF, but not very commonly practiced. The sperm and eggs are transferred to the woman’s fallopian tube so that fertilization occurs within the body.
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)¹ – This procedure is similar to IVF, but the sperm is injected into a mature egg rather than penetrating it on its own. The embryo is then transferred to the uterus or fallopian tube three to five days later.

Support Positive Pregnancy Outcomes with Prenatal Vitamins

In preparation for fertility treatments, patients must follow a strict protocol of medications. It’s important that women also incorporate a daily prenatal vitamin as part of this regimen. Folic acid is especially important for women who are trying to become pregnant. Since neural tube development and closure is completed by 28 days (four weeks) after conception, it’s crucial for women who are trying to become pregnant to build reserves of this important vitamin.²

Each nutritional supplement from the Prenate^® Vitamin Family meets or exceeds the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for folic acid³ in addition to providing marine-based DHA to support the overall health of moms and babies. Talk with your doctor about whether a prescription prenatal vitamin from the Prenate^® Vitamin Family may be right for you.