Fertility Treatments: An Overview of Options For Intended Parents

TL;DR: Fertility treatment options range from diagnostic testing and medications to IUI and IVF. Some families also use donor eggs/embryos or gestational surrogacy. The “right” path depends on medical factors, timeline, budget, and your family goals—so it helps to understand the typical ladder of options and where major decision points happen.

Step 1: Start with diagnostics (before choosing a treatment)

Even if you already know you want IVF (or surrogacy), a diagnostic workup often includes:

• Hormone and baseline testing
• Semen analysis (when applicable)
• Ultrasound and uterine evaluation (when applicable)
• Review of medical history and prior cycles

The goal is to identify constraints early so you can avoid unnecessary delays or repeated “trial and error.”

Common fertility treatment options (high-level)

1) Medications and cycle monitoring

Often used to support ovulation timing or optimize a cycle under medical supervision.

2) IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)

IUI is typically a less invasive step than IVF. A clinic times ovulation and places sperm into the uterus. It may be paired with medications depending on the plan.

3) IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)

IVF involves creating embryos in a lab and then transferring an embryo to the uterus.

IVF may include additional choices such as:

• embryo freezing (cryopreservation),
• optional embryo genetic testing (PGT),
• planning for single vs. multiple transfers.

4) Egg freezing or embryo freezing

Freezing can be used for fertility preservation or future family planning. Some intended parents freeze embryos to align with legal and logistical timelines (for example, when planning surrogacy).

5) Donor eggs, donor sperm, or donor embryos

Third-party reproduction can be part of many family-building plans, including:

• donor eggs + intended parent sperm (or donor sperm),
• donor embryos,
• combining donor options with gestational surrogacy.

If you’re exploring egg donation, these pages can help:

• Egg donor basics: /egg-donor
• Egg donor process: /egg-donor/process

6) Gestational surrogacy

Gestational surrogacy can be an option when carrying a pregnancy isn’t medically advised, isn’t possible, or isn’t the right fit for your family’s situation.

The embryo is created through IVF and transferred to a gestational carrier.

Helpful starting points:

• Intended parents basics: /intended-parents/basics
• Intended parents process: /intended-parents/process
• Surrogacy overview: /surrogacy

Decision points that matter most (and why)

When you’re comparing options, these questions tend to drive the plan:

• Timeline: Is there a time constraint that pushes you toward a faster path?
• Medical context: Are there known factors that make one option more appropriate?
• Budget and financial planning: What does your all-in plan look like (medical, legal, insurance, escrow)?
• Family goals: Are you planning for one child or future siblings?

If you’re considering surrogacy, it also helps to explore cost planning:

• Intended parents cost: /intended-parents/cost
• Surrogacy cost calculator: /tools/surrogacy-cost-calculator

Next steps

1. Book a consult and complete a diagnostic workup.
2. Ask your clinic for a written treatment plan and timeline.
3. If surrogacy or donor options may be part of your path, align the medical plan early with legal and logistical steps.

If you’d like support planning your intended-parent journey, contact Patriot Conceptions.