Hormonal treatments

On this page you will find information about:

• Important hormones concerning fertility
• Typical hormonal disorders
• Process of a hormonal treatment
• Hormone treatments for insemination and IVF treatment
• Precise dosage and careful control
• Hormone therapy in men
• Well treated, well accompanied

Hormonal disorders are often the reason why the desire to have children is not achieved naturally over a longer period of time. In 30 to 40 percent of all women, the unfulfilled wish to have a child is due to a hormonal disorder. But even in men there are hormonal disorders.

Our hormone treatments help you to rebalance your hormones. Some patients become naturally pregnant after hormone treatment. For others, hormone therapies provide the basis for successful IVF treatment or insemination.

Important hormones concerning fertility

In the reproductive process a number of sex hormones have certain tasks:

• Clomiphene, FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and HMG (human menopausal gonadotropin) stimulate the ovaries and lead to follicle maturation.
• Estrogen is formed by the maturing ovarian follicle and ensures a good structure of the uterine mucosa.
• Progesterone (corpus luteum hormone)  prepares for the implantation of the fertilzed egg.
• HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) triggers ovulation.

They are responsible for allowing the fertilized egg to nest in the endometrium.

If the hormone balance is disturbed, this process no longer works smoothly. Many women do not even know that there is a disorder. They have a normal monthly cycle and only learn through the relevant medical tests that they will not get pregnant due to a hormonal imbalance.

Typical hormonal disorders

The three most common hormone disorders that may lead to infertility are:

1. PCO syndrome (polycystic ovarian syndrome, also known as Stein-Leventhal syndrome). In affected women, many follicles are found in the ovaries, but ovulation only occurs rarely or does not occur at all.
2. Endometriosis. It occurs predominantly in women at the age between 30 and 40. The tissue of the uterine lining proliferates. It is a benign growth, but it is painful. The excess tissue leads to a closure of the fallopian tubes or disturbs the egg maturation. Often this affects the mobility of the fallopian tube so that the egg can not be transported properly.
3. Luteal phase defect. The corpus luteum prepares the uterus for the implantation of the fertilized egg. Too little of the corpus luteum hormone leads to problems in the implantation of the egg and sometimes to miscarriages.

We start each treatment with a detailed initial consultation and a comprehensive examination. If you have results from hormone testing, please bring them with you. We start with hormone treatment by closely observing your cycle first. By means of ultrasound and blood tests we check the size of the maturing follicles as well as the growth of the uterine lining on different days of the cycle. That is how we determine where we can best start with hormone treatment.

Depending on your situation, we use hormone therapy to achieve one of these goals:

• Stabilize your menstrual cycle.
• Stimulate the maturation of oocytes.
• Cause an ovulation.

The hormone treatment is done with pills or injections that you can administer by yourself. During the entire treatment period, we closely observe the maturing egg so we can determine the exact time of ovulation.

After receiving hormone treatment and knowing the best time in the cycle, about one in three women becomes pregnant naturally. Sometimes several treatments are necessary until the wish for a child is fulfilled.

Hormonal stimulation for insemination and IVF TREATment

Women who do not get pregnant naturally after several hormonal treatments have some more options.

With an insemination or an artificial insemination (IVF) we fulfill many couples’ desire for a child. Targeted hormonal stimulation can increase our chances of success. By hormonal stimulation a higher number of fertilizable oocytes is produced, which increases the fertilization rate when sperm is transferred to the uterus during insemination. In the same way, it improves the chances of getting pregnant if we can find a higher number of suitable ova for artificial insemination.

Precise dosage and careful control

Hormone therapies can have unpleasant side effects. In some patients, the treatment leads to hot flashes, dizziness or blurred vision. In rare cases, overstimulation occurs.

In order for your hormone treatment to be as gentle as possible, we attach great importance to it:

• By careful diagnostics in advance, we can optimally tailor the treatment to you.
• We take care to carry out the hormone therapy with precise dosage. We act according to the motto "as much as necessary, as little as possible".
• We make every effort to limit the burden on you as much as possible.
• We closely monitor the course of treatment so we can respond anytime if there are side effects.
• We are there for you if you are uncertain and have questions. We are at your side if you need assistance.

Hormone therapy in men

Hormonal disorders are not just about women. Even in men, hormonal imbalances can occur. The sex hormone testosterone plays an especially important role in sperm production. A lack of testosterone reduces fertility and can lead to erectile or ejaculation disorders. Sperm quality can also be impaired.

Hormonal disorders in men can have different causes. Negative stress, alcohol and smoking can be just as responsible for the reduced fertility as inflammation or injury. It is important to clarify why the hormone balance is off track. A hormone therapy can provide relief and contribute significantly to the success of having children.

Depending on the individual situation, the appropriate therapy is carried out:

• Capsules taken daily
• Injections
• Administration of other hormones that stimulate semen production

Well treated, well accompanied

We know the emotional stress a couple with an unfulfilled desire to have a baby is exposed to. Therefore, it is important to us not only to take care of your physical treatment. We dedicate ourselves to you holistically as a person and as a couple. Therefore, we also consider your personal life situation and lifestyle in our advice and support. In your desire for children we accompany you with understanding and give you support.

With us you can trust that:

• We are an experienced team that responds to you individually as a holistic personality.
• It is important to us that you feel comfortable. Therefore, we pay attention to maintaining a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
• We use the latest technology and the latest medical knowledge to make your wish for children come true.
• Our experts support your treatment with psychological counseling, TCM, acupuncture or nutritional counseling.

You want to be accompanied competently and empathetically in your desire for children?
We are happy to arrange a first meeting with you. Make an appointment and find out more.