What causes the symptoms of PCOS? Most of the symptoms of PCOS are caused by higher-than-normal levels of certain hormones, called androgens. The ovaries produce hormones, which are chemicals that control functions in the body. One of the hormones that the ovaries make is estrogen—sometimes called the "female hormone" because women's bodies make more of it than men's bodies do. The ovaries also m ...

Is infertility just a woman's problem? No, infertility is not always a woman’s problem. Both men and women can contribute to infertility. Many couples struggle with infertility and seek help to become pregnant, but it is often thought of as only a woman’s condition. However, in about 35% of couples with infertility, a male factor is identified along with a female factor. In about 8% of couples wi ...

How often is assisted reproductive technology (ART) successful? Success rates vary and depend on many factors, including the clinic performing the procedure, the infertility diagnosis, and the age of the woman undergoing the procedure. This last factor—the woman’s age—is especially important. CDC collects success rates on ART for some fertility clinics. According to the CDC’s 2015 ART Success Rat ...

What are risk factors for infertility in all genders? These factors increase the risk of infertility in all genders: Age (over age 35 for women or over 40 for men). Diabetes. Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Excessive alcohol use. Exposure to environmental toxins, such as lead and pesticides. Over exercising. Radiation therapy or other cancer treatments. Sexually transmit ...

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 ...

Symptoms: The main symptom of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. A menstrual cycle that's too long (35 days or more), too short (less than 21 days), irregular or absent can mean that you're not ovulating. There may be no other outward signs or symptoms. Each of these factors is essential to become pregnant: You need to ovulate. To get pregnant, your ovaries must produce and release a ...

What is cervical insufficiency? An "insufficient" cervix is a weakened cervix that predisposes a woman to mid-term miscarriage or early (premature) delivery. This has also been called cervical incompetence. The Cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb) located between the bladder and the rectum. The cervix forms a canal that opens into the vagina, which leads to the outside of the bod ...

What causes infertility in men? Infertility in men can be caused by different factors and is typically evaluated by a semen analysis. When a semen analysis is performed, the number of sperm (concentration), motility (movement), and morphology (shape) are assessed by a specialist. A slightly abnormal semen analysis does not mean that a man is necessarily infertile. Instead, a semen analysis helps d ...