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Study Up for 'Think': Infertility 101

Jenn Raynes
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flickr
People may turn to in vitro fertilization to combat infertility. To prepare the body for the procedure, an array of drugs are necessary.

More than six million women have trouble getting pregnant. At 1 p.m. on Think, reproductive experts Dr. Satin Patel and Dr. Bruce Carr will talk to Krys Boyd about the options available to couples facing infertility.

A common cause of infertility is simply that women are often unaware of how their biological clocks bear on the ability to get pregnant. NPR's Jennifer Ludden explains it has some to do with a trend of 40-something celebrities who've become new moms - and a lack of information about the fertility treatments many of them had to make those pregnancies happen. 

In vitro fertilization, a process where the sperm and egg are manually put together before being guided to the lining of the uterus, can be a long and trying process. National Geographic shares brief footage of the treatment and shows the beginning stages of life. There are even IVF grants for applicants who can raise the first $3,500 for the procedure, which sometimes costs $15,000. Check out this NPR piece on the scholarships.

Another alternative is adoption. To learn more about getting started, How to Adopt has an adoption guide. It includes information such as the process basics, the different types available and how to find an agency. A well-written family profile could help speed up the adoption process.

Still, finding out conception may not be possible can cause anguish. Baby Center offers advice from therapists on coping with sterility.

HowStuffWorks lists five common causes of infertility. Nonetheless there is a slew of ways to boost fertility.

Listen to Think Monday through Thursday at noon and 9pm on KERA 90.1, or stream the show live