Disruption of ovarian function (presence or absence of ovulation (anovulation) and effects of ovarian “age”) A woman’s menstrual cycle is, on average, 28 days long. Day 1 is defined as the first day of “full flow.” Regular predictable periods that occur every 24 to 32 days likely reflect ovulation. A woman with irregular periods is likely not ovulating. Ovulation can be predicted by using an ovul ...

Tests for men Male fertility requires that the testicles produce enough healthy sperm, and that the sperm is ejaculated effectively into the vagina and travels to the egg. Tests for male infertility attempt to determine whether any of these processes are impaired. You may have a general physical exam, including examination of your genitals. Specific fertility tests may include: Semen analysis. Y ...

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 ...

Ovulation disorders Ovulation disorders, meaning you ovulate infrequently or not at all, account for infertility in about 1 in 4 infertile couples. Problems with the regulation of reproductive hormones by the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, or problems in the ovary, can cause ovulation disorders. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS causes a hormone imbalance, which affects ovulation. PCOS ...

Who is at risk for male infertility? You may be more likely to have male infertility if you have had: Past inflammation of the prostate or past genital infections Injury to or twisting (torsion) of the testicles Early or late puberty Exposure of the genitals to high temperatures Hernia repair Undescended testicles You may also be at risk if you take certain prescription medicines. These include m ...

Ovulation disorders Ovulation disorders, meaning you ovulate infrequently or not at all, account for infertility in about 1 in 4 infertile couples. Problems with the regulation of reproductive hormones by the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, or problems in the ovary, can cause ovulation disorders. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS causes a hormone imbalance, which affects ovulation. PCOS ...

The most common menstrual irregularities include: Amenorrhea or absent menstrual periods: When a woman does not get her period by age 16, or when she stops getting her period for at least 3 months and is not pregnant. Oligomenorrhea or infrequent menstrual periods: Periods that occur more than 35 days apart. Menorrhagia or heavy menstrual periods:Also called excessive bleeding. Although anovulat ...

Genetic issues affecting conception: Genetic problems generally relate to chromosomal abnormalities and single gene issues. These often cause embryo implantation failure and pregnancy loss, as well as possibly resulting in birth defects when a child is born with a chromosomal or single gene defect. Chromosomal disorders can relate to one or more of an embryo’s chromosome pairs containing either o ...