The risk is relatively low, but parents should consider this when making the decision to use ART. For more information about infertility, call the OWH Helpline at or contact the following organizations:. Department of Health and Human Services. ET closed on federal holidays. Breadcrumb Home A-Z health topics Infertility.
Infertility Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying or six months if a woman is 35 or older. What is infertility? Pregnancy is the result of a process that has many steps. To get pregnant: A woman's body must release an egg from one of her ovaries ovulation.
The egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the uterus womb. A man's sperm must join with fertilize the egg along the way. The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus implantation. Infertility can happen if there are problems with any of these steps. Is infertility a common problem? Is infertility just a woman's problem?
What causes infertility in men? This happens when the veins on a man's testicle s are too large. This heats the testicles. The heat can affect the number or shape of the sperm. Other factors that cause a man to make too few sperm or none at all. Movement of the sperm. This may be caused by the shape of the sperm. Sometimes injuries or other damage to the reproductive system block the sperm. What increases a man's risk of infertility?
Some things that may reduce the health or number of sperm include: Heavy alcohol use Drugs Smoking cigarettes Age Environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead Health problems such as mumps, serious conditions like kidney disease, or hormone problems Medicines Radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer.
What causes infertility in women? Less common causes of fertility problems in women include: Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease , endometriosis , or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy Physical problems with the uterus Uterine fibroids , which are non-cancerous clumps of tissue and muscle on the walls of the uterus. What things increase a woman's risk of infertility? Many things can change a woman's ability to have a baby. These include: Age Smoking Excess alcohol use Stress Poor diet Athletic training Being overweight or underweight Sexually transmitted infections STIs Health problems that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency.
How does age affect a woman's ability to have children? Aging decreases a woman's chances of having a baby in the following ways: Her ovaries become less able to release eggs She has a smaller number of eggs left Her eggs are not as healthy She is more likely to have health conditions that can cause fertility problems She is more likely to have a miscarriage. How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors? So, women should talk to their doctors if they have: Irregular periods or no menstrual periods Very painful periods Endometriosis Pelvic inflammatory disease More than one miscarriage It is a good idea for any woman to talk to a doctor before trying to get pregnant.
How will doctors find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems? A woman can track her ovulation at home by: Writing down changes in her morning body temperature for several months Writing down how her cervical mucus looks for several months Using a home ovulation test kit available at drug or grocery stores Doctors can also check ovulation with blood tests.
Doctors inject a special dye into the uterus through the vagina. This dye shows up in the x-ray. Doctors can then watch to see if the dye moves freely through the uterus and fallopian tubes. This can help them find physical blocks that may be causing infertility. Blocks in the system can keep the egg from moving from the fallopian tube to the uterus.
A block could also keep the sperm from reaching the egg. Laparoscopy lap-uh-ROS-kuh-pee : A minor surgery to see inside the abdomen. The doctor does this with a small tool with a light called a laparoscope LAP-uh-roh-skohp.
She or he makes a small cut in the lower abdomen and inserts the laparoscope. With the laparoscope, the doctor can check the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus for disease and physical problems. Doctors can usually find scarring and endometriosis by laparoscopy.
How do doctors treat infertility? Doctors recommend specific treatments for infertility based on: Test results How long the couple has been trying to get pregnant The age of both the man and woman The overall health of the partners Preference of the partners Doctors often treat infertility in men in the following ways: Sexual problems: Doctors can help men deal with impotence or premature ejaculation.
Too few sperm: Sometimes surgery can correct the cause of the problem. In other cases, doctors surgically remove sperm directly from the male reproductive tract. Antibiotics can also be used to clear up infections affecting sperm count. Sperm movement: Sometimes semen has no sperm because of a block in the man's system. In some cases, surgery can correct the problem.
In women, some physical problems can also be corrected with surgery. What medicines are used to treat infertility in women? Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include: Clomiphene citrate Clomid : This medicine causes ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland.
It is often used in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS or other problems with ovulation. This medicine is taken by mouth. Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG Repronex, Pergonal : This medicine is often used for women who don't ovulate due to problems with their pituitary gland. It is an injected medicine. It causes the ovaries to begin the process of ovulation. These medicines are usually injected. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone Gn-RH analog: These medicines are often used for women who don't ovulate regularly each month.
Women who ovulate before the egg is ready can also use these medicines. Factors like stress or heavy workouts can cause your period to temporarily disappear. Signs of hormone fluctuations in women could indicate potential issues with fertility. Talk to your doctor if you experience the following:. It could be related to hormone issues, to endometriosis, or to other underlying conditions that could also be contributing to infertility.
Changes in virility, often governed by hormones, could indicate issues with fertility. There are several different conditions that could lead to pain or swelling in the testicles, many of which could contribute to infertility. Reduced hormones may result, which could potentially translate into trouble conceiving. Similarly, an inability to ejaculate is a sign that it might be time to visit a doctor.
Small or firm testicles could indicate potential issues that should be explored by a medical practitioner. Around 15 to 20 percent of couples trying to conceive will have trouble with infertility. Female factor infertility is typically to blame 40 percent of the time, while male factor infertility is the cause of issues 30 to 40 percent of the time. A combination of these factors leads to infertility 20 to 30 percent of the time.
The medical industry is forever making advances in this field. Make an appointment with your doctor and go over your concerns. Even if you are diagnosed with infertility, you may still be able to conceive. Celiac disease may be a cause for infertility. My wife and I loved the significant financial savings, the flexibility, the control we had over steering the process ourselves for our three at-home…. Even couples without fertility problems need three to six months to conceive.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, but not quite ready to give up, talk to your doctor about taking a break. You may be worried that delaying treatment will reduce your odds of success, but this isn't always true. Plus, sometimes your mental health is more important. If treatment is successful and you become pregnant , the fertility clinic will likely monitor you for the first several weeks of the pregnancy, and you may need to continue some hormonal treatments or injections.
Depending on the cause of your infertility, and whether you conceive multiples, you may need closer monitoring during your pregnancy. Pregnancy after infertility is not the same as an "easily conceived" pregnancy.
If you have infertile friends, you may experience survivor's guilt or feel like you're leaving them behind. Not all infertile couples will conceive. If ultimately you're unable to get pregnant or must stop treatment for financial reasons, it can be heartbreaking. If your disappointment is overwhelming, be sure to see a counselor or join a self-help group. Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Birth outcomes after spontaneous or assisted conception among infertile Australian women aged 28 to 36 years: a prospective, population-based study.
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I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Basic Fertility Testing. Basic Fertility Treatment. Find a Fertility Clinic. More Fertility Testing. Create a Plan of Action. Fertility Treatment Plans.
Reevaluate Treatment Plans. Plan for a Healthy Pregnancy. Decide to Move On. These include: Quitting smoking Cutting back on drinking alcohol Losing weight if you're overweight or obese obesity also can be triggered by a hormonal imbalance Reducing the amount of exercise you do if you tend to work out excessively or are underweight.
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