Learn How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting Pregnant

Infertility is a frustrating and devastating problem for thousands of couples. In fact, up to 15 percent of American couples experience infertility -- but there is help.

Invitro fertilization is just one of many methods a couple can try to conceive.

To help promote conception, experts say women should avoid strenuous dieting and workouts. They could lead to menstrual irregularity and cessation of ovulation. Also, avoid drug and alcohol use -- they diminish the production of estrogen. Doctors also say that a daily dose of vitamins C, E and Selenium can also help.

But if that doesn't work, couples can turn to assisted reproductive techniques. Dr. Marcelo Barrionuevo is an infertility specialist at the Memorial Advanced Fertility Treatment Center in Hollywood. The center specializes in treatments including insemination and invitro fertilization -- or IVF.

With IVF, hormonal drugs are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. The eggs are then removed and combined with sperm in a lab dish. Within a few days, the doctor transplants one or more of the fertilized eggs, or embryos, into the uterus -- with the hope of pregnancy. But experts say there are risks.

"The risk of multiple pregnancies and the risk of hyperstimulation are two of the most important things that we have been working very hard trying to minimize," Barrionuevo said.

To reduce that risk, some doctors allow the fertilized eggs to develop for an additional two to three days in the petri dish -- a process called blastocyst transfer.

IVF can be a tedious and expensive process -- costing thousands of dollars. And it doesn't guarantee success.

For more information, call Dr. Marcelo Barrionuevo, an infertility specialist at the Memorial Advanced

Fertility Treatment Center in Hollywood at (954) 986-6364.