Assisted reproductive technology (ART): Assisted reproductive technology (ART) combines the sperm and eggs outside the body, and then places the embryos into the uterus. The main type of ART is in vitro fertilization (IVF). Before IVF, the woman will get a series of injections to help her ovaries produce a lot of eggs. Once those eggs are mature, they’ll be removed using a simple surgical procedu ...

What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)? Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is an infertility treatment that is often called artificial insemination. In this procedure, specially prepared sperm are inserted into the woman’s uterus. Sometimes the woman is also treated with medicines that stimulate ovulation before IUI. IUI is often used to treat Mild male factor infertility. Couples with unexplained ...

Some medical conditions can affect fertility. Ovulation disorders appear to be the most common cause of infertility in women. Ovulation is the monthly release of an egg. The eggs may never be released or they may only be released in some cycles. Ovulation disorders can be due to: Premature ovarian failure: The ovaries stop working before the age of 40 years. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): T ...

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. ...

Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord. They happen in the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly. In spina bifida, the fetal spinal column doesn't close completely. There is usually nerve damage that causes at least some paralysis of the legs. In ane ...

Some of the tests the doctor may want include: A sperm count and analysis to evaluate whether your partner is releasing enough live, normally shaped, fast-moving sperm to make fatherhood possible. Complete blood count and screening of both partners for blood type, HIV and hepatitis viruses, as well as immunity to German measles, and to assess functioning of organs, such as the thyroid gland. Horm ...

If you've had regular, unprotected sex for more than a year without conceiving (or six months if you're older than 35), see your doctor. About 65 percent of couples that get treatment for a fertility problem are eventually able to have a successful pregnancy, according to Resolve, the national infertility association. The success rates below are based on averages gathered from large groups of pat ...

What causes infertility? Infertility may be caused by a number of different factors, in either the male or female reproductive systems. However, it is sometimes not possible to explain the causes of infertility. In the female reproductive system, infertility may be caused by: tubal disorders such as blocked fallopian tubes, which are in turn caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections (S ...