Therapeutic Management of Infertility A Pharmacist's Perspective

According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 8 couples (i.e., 12% of married women) has difficulty conceiving or sustaining a pregnancy. Furthermore, research has demonstrated a rising trend for women to delay childbearing, which has resulted in an increase in the number of women seeking additional reproductive therapies in order to conceive. Once the underlying cause of infertility-whether female-related factors, male-related factors, or both-has been identified, various treatment options may be used to improve the chances of conceiving. Medication options vary depending on the cause of infertility, as well as on the type of infertility treatment required. The pharmacist can serve as an important resource for patients dealing with infertility and its treatment.