SAN ANTONIO -- Women undergoing fertility treatments often end up with twins or triplets. Now, a San Antonio study is helping test different treatments to see which one is most likely to yield a single baby.
Couples who are desperate to have children often turn to medical science for help. A new federal study seeks to find the best way to treat them without risking complicated pregnancies with multiples.
San Antonian Shae Freeman-Hicks, 31, and her husband have struggled with infertility. She describes it as the most frustrating part of her life.
“You know, you think your whole life that you’re going to grow up and get married and then have babies,” she said. “And then you get to that point in your life and it just doesn’t happen. It’s a really sad and frustrating thing.”
Freeman-Hicks turned to fertility experts at UT Medicine for help. They’re testing three medications: an injectable gonadotropin called Menopur, a commonly-used pill Clomid and an investigational drug called Letrozole.
“Humans are designed to have one baby at a time and that’s our goal with our fertility treatments,” explained Dr. Robert Brzyski, a U.T. Health Science Center fertility specialist. “So we’re interested in learning which fertility treatment provides the best opportunity to have a single baby.”
After treatments and insemination, a single baby is what Freeman-Hicks is expecting. Her first baby is due in May.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” she commented. “It feels like it’s just a dream. It’s so crazy.”
Since she volunteered as part of this NIH study, her treatment was free. Couples who sign up can get fertility help worth up to $20,000.
“I think the most responsible thing to do is to aim for one baby,” Freeman-Hicks added.
It’s unclear which method will have the greatest likelihood of producing a single baby, but this study should provide important answers.
“So we’re encouraged that we’re on the right track,” Brzyski said.
UT Medicine is looking for infertile couples to volunteer. They must have tried unsuccessfully for at least a year to get pregnant. The woman must be between 18 and 40.
For more information, contact the UT Medicine Fertility Study unit at (210) 567-6245.
