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 ...

Unexplained infertility Unexplained infertility is the diagnosis that fertility specialists give an individual or couple when fertility tests can not confirm a definitive cause for infertility. Unexplained infertility does not mean that there is not a cause for infertility; it simply means that the tests and examinations are not able to detect the reason an individual or couple is struggling to co ...

When should you seek help for infertility? Women under the age of 35 who aren’t pregnant after one year of trying should see a healthcare provider. You should seek help sooner (after six months of trying) if you’re older than 35. A woman’s chances of getting pregnant decrease with age. A 30-year-old woman is half as fertile as a 20-year-old woman. Regardless of gender, you should seek help early ...

Lifestyle issues affecting conception Lifestyle issues that impede fertility are factors that one can often change by choices and behaviors. As such, we encourage people having troubling getting pregnant to try these changes first, if they are applicable. Most of the lifestyle issues can affect both men and women. Weight. This is one of the primary lifestyle issues that can cause infertility in b ...

Fertility cycle Women are most fertile around the time that they ovulate. Tracking your ovulation and then concentrating your sexual activity around this time can improve your chances of conceiving. Ovulation occurs one day out of the month. At this time, your ovaries release a mature egg, which begins to travel through your fallopian tubes. If the egg encounters sperm during its journey, fertili ...

Fertility for women relies on the ovaries releasing healthy eggs. The reproductive tract must allow an egg to pass into the fallopian tubes and join with sperm for fertilization. The fertilized egg must travel to the uterus and implant in the lining. Tests for female infertility try to find out if any of these processes are impaired. You may have a general physical exam, including a regular gyn ...

Polycystic ovarian syndrome Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which small follicles in the ovaries don't develop into the larger, mature follicles that release eggs. It's also characterized by hormone imbalances and unpredictable ovulation patterns. Possible symptoms: irregular periods, excessive hair growth, acne, and obesity. Possible solutions: Lifestyle modifications (like ...

About one-third of these cases are due to female fertility problems, one-third to male fertility problems, and the rest to factors involving both partners or to unexplained causes. 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 eventu ...