The first stage of infertility treatment, what kind of treatment is the timing method? What is the cost and probability of pregnancy?

There are many couples who want to get pregnant and undergo fertility treatment. However, there are many people who have anxiety and worries about what kind of treatment to start and what to be careful about.

Therefore, this time, we will explain what the “timing method” is, which is one of the fertility treatments, how to proceed, how much the cost and probability of pregnancy are, and how to step up.

If you are considering treatment, please refer to it.

Find out in this article

• what is the timing method
• Timing method flow
• Good to know when doing the timing method

What is the timing method?

The timing method, which is one of the infertility treatments, is a method of having sexual intercourse at the time when you are most likely to get pregnant (the day of ovulation).

Predict the ovulation date by performing a woman's basal body temperature, urinary LH test, ultrasonography, etc. There are some people who measure their basal body temperature and check the timing, but by combining multiple testing methods, it is possible to predict the best timing more accurately.

Since it is a less invasive treatment method for both men and women, it is often started as the first infertility treatment.

Couples Subject to Timing Law

Couples who are subject to the timing method are those who are capable of natural internal pregnancy for both men and women. Specifically, those who meet the following conditions.

• Those who do not have abnormalities in the left and right fallopian tubes or serious ovulation disorders (females)
• Those who have no problems with semen test results (male)

The main purpose of the timing method is to promote pregnancy by arranging conditions that facilitate fertilization, so it is necessary to have a normal egg and sperm and an environment such as a fallopian tube where the egg and sperm meet. .

Couples considering the timing method first need to be tested to see if they are eligible.

Timing method flow

I will explain the flow when actually performing the timing method. The general flow is examination, follicle monitoring, sexual intercourse, post-ovulation check, and pregnancy determination. Some words may be unfamiliar to you. Let's take a closer look at each content.

Consultation/examination

After visiting the obstetrics and gynecology department, we will first check whether both of you meet the target conditions of the timing method and check the development of follicles.

In addition, let's see a doctor on the 10th to 12th day of the menstrual cycle (2 to 3 days before ovulation). The timing of the test is also important for accurate results. In this examination, we will perform an interview based on the basal body temperature recorded in advance and the physical condition of the person, an ultrasound examination, measurement of luteinizing hormone in urine, and examination to collect mucus from the cervical canal.

Accurately predict the ovulation date after considering all of these multiple pieces of information.

follicle monitoring

We check how much the follicles have grown by performing an ultrasound examination, but if they have not grown enough yet, we will continue to observe them until they reach maturity. This is called follicular monitoring.

In order to choose the best timing, let's wait until the follicle is fully developed.

sexual intercourse

Once the ovulation date has been confirmed through testing and monitoring, the doctor will give you guidance on the recommended timing. Have sexual intercourse with reference to the timing.

There are several days of timing. If possible, it is better to have sex every day or every other day during that period.

Post-ovulation check

A post-ovulation check will be performed to check whether the environment conducive to pregnancy is in place, including whether or not ovulation has occurred. In order to prepare the environment, it is essential to maintain the secretion of luteinizing hormone, which is one of the female hormones.

Progesterone keeps the lining of the uterus ready for the implantation of a fertilized egg, making it easier for the whole body to maintain a pregnancy.

If progesterone function is low, supplementation with luteinizing hormone may be performed using oral medicines or vaginal tablets.

pregnancy test

If your period is later than usual, please check your pregnancy reaction yourself. If it is positive, a pregnancy test will be performed at the hospital. Pregnancy is determined by a urine test.

Even if you are not pregnant, you can do it again because it is not a burdensome method. Of course, there are many treatment methods other than the timing method, so it is possible to take further steps from an early stage. In that case, please consult your local medical institution.

Timing method cost

The cost of the general timing method is about 2,000 to 3,000 yen per time if covered by insurance. As you can see from the flow, it is mainly a method of determining the best timing by conducting an examination, so if the cost is the minimum necessary, the examination fee and the examination fee will be sufficient.

However, if you prescribe drugs such as injection therapy and ovulation inducers as I mentioned in the post-ovulation check, there will be an additional cost. In addition, depending on the medicine, it may not be covered by insurance, so in that case, it may cost about 10,000 to 20,000 yen.

Probability of getting pregnant with the timing method

The probability of getting pregnant by the timing method is said to be 16 to 18% in one cycle for couples who are likely to conceive, and a few percent for those with infertility.

It has been reported that if pregnancy is desired without any timing, it is 2% per cycle for infertile couples, and 25-30% per cycle for non-infertile couples in their 20s and 30s (on average). However, this data is overseas data.)

Since the probability of conception changes depending on the age of the couple, it is not possible to generalize, but the above figures are a rough guideline.

Guideline for stepping up

If you cannot get pregnant with the timing method, you will have to step up, that is, consider the next treatment method. Generally, the number of times of timing therapy is about 3 to 6 times.

The timing method is the first choice for fertility treatment, and as I mentioned earlier, the pregnancy rate is not that high compared to natural pregnancy. For this reason, there are many couples who switch to the next treatment method or stop treatment after seeing the situation once.

While consulting with your doctor, let's think about a treatment policy at your own pace.

Read the following articles together
Introduces the examination items and treatment methods for infertility treatment

summary

This time, I explained the timing method, which is the first choice for fertility treatment. The timing method is a less invasive method for both men and women, and is relatively easy to work with. But there are a few points to check.

Points for using the timing method

• There are conditions to which the timing method is applicable
• Timing is important, such as testing according to the cycle and sexual intercourse
• The treatment cost is slightly lower than other infertility treatments
• May use drugs
• The probability of getting pregnant with the timing method is a few percent
• The general number of treatments is 3 to 6 times, and it is also important to consult with the couple about the standard of step-up.

The timing method requires a response that matches the cycle, so some people feel pressure about age and timing. However, the most important thing is the physical condition, the surrounding environment, and above all, the feelings of the two of you. You don't have to fit into a general mold, it's important to treat at your own pace.