Infertility FAQs
Is infertility a common problem?
Yes. About 6% of married women 15-44 years of age in the United States are unable to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex. Also, about 11% of women 15-44 years of age in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term, regardless of marital status.
Is infertility just a woman’s problem?
No, infertility is not always a woman’s problem. Both men and women contribute to infertility.
What causes infertility in men?
Infertility in men can be caused by different factors and is typically evaluated by a semen analysis. A specialist will evaluate the number of sperm, motility, and morphology. Conditions that can contribute to abnormal analyses include varicoceles, medical conditions or exposures such as diabetes, infection or treatment with chemotherapy, unhealthy habits such as heavy alcohol use, smoking, testosterone supplementation, anabolic steroid use, and environmental toxins including exposure to pesticides. Learn More
What causes infertility in women?
Women need functioning ovaries, fallopian tubes, and a uterus to get pregnant. Conditions affecting any one of these organs can contribute to female infertility. There are many tests available to evaluate the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus as well as many treatments. Learn More
What things increase a woman’s risk of infertility?
Female fertility is known to decline with:
· Age
· Smoking
· Excessive alcohol use
· Extreme weight gain or loss.
· Excessive physical or emotional stress
How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors?
Most experts suggest at least one year for women under age 35. However, women aged 35 years or older should see a health care provider after 6 months of trying unsuccessfully. There are some health problems that may also increase the risk of infertility, so women should talk with a health care provider if they have:
· Irregular periods or no menstrual periods
· Vary painful periods
· Endometriosis
· More than one miscarriage
How will doctors find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems?
Doctors will begin by collecting a medical and sexual history from both partners. The initial testing usually includes a physical exam, vaginal ultrasound, blood work, and a semen analysis. Learn More
How do doctors treat infertility?
Infertility can be treated with medicine, surgery, intrauterine insemination, or assisted reproductive technology. Many times these treatments are combined. Doctors will recommend specific treatments for infertility based on:
· the factors contributing to the infertility
· The duration of the infertility
· The age of the female
· The couple’s treatment preference after counseling about success rates, risks, and benefits to each treatment option.Learn More
What are some of the specific treatments for male infertility?
Male infertility may be treated with medical, surgical, or assisted reproductive therapies depending on the underlying cause. Medical and surgical therapies are usually managed by a urologist and a reproductive endocrinologist may offer intrauterine inseminations or in vitro fertilization IVF to help overcome male factor infertility. Learn More
What medicines are used to treat infertility in women?
Clomiphene citrate (clomid) is a medicine taken by mouth that causes ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland. Human gonadotropins (Follistim, Menopur, Bravelle, Gonal-F) are injectable medicines used to stimulate ovulation. Learn More
What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)?
A procedure where specially prepared sperm are inserted into the woman’s uterus. Learn More
What is assisted reproductive technology(ART)?
Assisted Reproductive technology includes all fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm are handled outside of the body. In General, ART procedures involve surgically removing eggs forma woman’s ovaries, combining them with sperm in the laboratory, and returning them to the woman’s body or donating them to another woman. The main type of ART is in vitro fertilization (IVF). Learn More
Yes. About 6% of married women 15-44 years of age in the United States are unable to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex. Also, about 11% of women 15-44 years of age in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term, regardless of marital status.
Is infertility just a woman’s problem?
No, infertility is not always a woman’s problem. Both men and women contribute to infertility.
What causes infertility in men?
Infertility in men can be caused by different factors and is typically evaluated by a semen analysis. A specialist will evaluate the number of sperm, motility, and morphology. Conditions that can contribute to abnormal analyses include varicoceles, medical conditions or exposures such as diabetes, infection or treatment with chemotherapy, unhealthy habits such as heavy alcohol use, smoking, testosterone supplementation, anabolic steroid use, and environmental toxins including exposure to pesticides. Learn More
What causes infertility in women?
Women need functioning ovaries, fallopian tubes, and a uterus to get pregnant. Conditions affecting any one of these organs can contribute to female infertility. There are many tests available to evaluate the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus as well as many treatments. Learn More
What things increase a woman’s risk of infertility?
Female fertility is known to decline with:
· Age
· Smoking
· Excessive alcohol use
· Extreme weight gain or loss.
· Excessive physical or emotional stress
How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors?
Most experts suggest at least one year for women under age 35. However, women aged 35 years or older should see a health care provider after 6 months of trying unsuccessfully. There are some health problems that may also increase the risk of infertility, so women should talk with a health care provider if they have:
· Irregular periods or no menstrual periods
· Vary painful periods
· Endometriosis
· More than one miscarriage
How will doctors find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems?
Doctors will begin by collecting a medical and sexual history from both partners. The initial testing usually includes a physical exam, vaginal ultrasound, blood work, and a semen analysis. Learn More
How do doctors treat infertility?
Infertility can be treated with medicine, surgery, intrauterine insemination, or assisted reproductive technology. Many times these treatments are combined. Doctors will recommend specific treatments for infertility based on:
· the factors contributing to the infertility
· The duration of the infertility
· The age of the female
· The couple’s treatment preference after counseling about success rates, risks, and benefits to each treatment option.Learn More
What are some of the specific treatments for male infertility?
Male infertility may be treated with medical, surgical, or assisted reproductive therapies depending on the underlying cause. Medical and surgical therapies are usually managed by a urologist and a reproductive endocrinologist may offer intrauterine inseminations or in vitro fertilization IVF to help overcome male factor infertility. Learn More
What medicines are used to treat infertility in women?
Clomiphene citrate (clomid) is a medicine taken by mouth that causes ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland. Human gonadotropins (Follistim, Menopur, Bravelle, Gonal-F) are injectable medicines used to stimulate ovulation. Learn More
What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)?
A procedure where specially prepared sperm are inserted into the woman’s uterus. Learn More
What is assisted reproductive technology(ART)?
Assisted Reproductive technology includes all fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm are handled outside of the body. In General, ART procedures involve surgically removing eggs forma woman’s ovaries, combining them with sperm in the laboratory, and returning them to the woman’s body or donating them to another woman. The main type of ART is in vitro fertilization (IVF). Learn More