How Much of a Role Do Genes and Family History Play in Fertility? Can you blame your parents if you’re having trouble getting pregnant? The short answer is probably not. Your family history is not the biggest factor—or even one of the biggest factors—that affects your fertility. Infertility as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse. However, that definition i ...

Risk factors Certain factors may put you at higher risk of infertility, including: Age. The quality and quantity of a woman's eggs begin to decline with age. In the mid-30s, the rate of follicle loss speeds, resulting in fewer and poorer quality eggs. This makes conception more difficult, and increases the risk of miscarriage. Smoking. Besides damaging your cervix and fallopian tubes, smoking inc ...

Why IVF is done In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a treatment for infertility or genetic problems. If IVF is performed to treat infertility, you and your partner might be able to try less-invasive treatment options before attempting IVF, including fertility drugs to increase production of eggs or intrauterine insemination — a procedure in which sperm are placed directly in your uterus near the time ...

Testing and Treatment: The first few days of your monthly cycle is the best time to schedule your first visit to a fertility doctor, so you can start trying to get pregnant right away. Bring along all your medical records, or ask your previous doctor to send them directly to the reproductive endocrinologist. Also, you should make a list of any questions that you'd like to discuss during this initi ...

Damage to fallopian tubes (tubal infertility) Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes keep sperm from getting to the egg or block the passage of the fertilized egg into the uterus. Causes of fallopian tube damage or blockage can include: Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes due to chlamydia, gonorrhea or other sexually transmitted infections Previous surgery in t ...

INFERTILITY: Infertility means not being able to become pregnant within certain parameters. Infertility is a common problem of about 6% of women aged 15 to 44. Infertility can be due to the woman, the man, both sexes, or unknown problems. Infertility in men can be due to varicocele, trauma, low or absent sperm count, sperm damage, alcohol use, or certain diseases like diabetes, cystic fibrosis, au ...

Infertility tests for females A female will undergo a general physical examination, and the doctor will ask about medical history, medications, menstruation cycle, and sexual habits. They will also undergo a gynecologic examination and a number of tests: Blood test: This can assess hormone levels and whether a female is ovulating. Hysterosalpingography: A technician injects fluid into the uterus ...

What is required for a couple to become pregnant? In order for a couple to become pregnant, at least four things have to happen: A woman must produce and release a healthy egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation). A man must produce viable sperm which can successfully fertilize the woman’s egg (fertilization). The egg must travel through a fallopian tube toward the uterus (transportation). The fer ...