Varicocele — This condition of dilated scrotal veins affects one or both testicles. These dilated, varicose veins are quite common in fertile as well as infertile men. This condition can raise the temperature in the testicles and alter sperm production, causing low sperm counts. Because varicoceles do not always explain a couple's infertility, a urologist will consider all the possible causes of i ...

Definition of infertility A diagnosis of infertility means you haven’t been able to get pregnant after a year of trying. If you’re a woman over 35, it means you haven’t been able to get pregnant after 6 months of trying. Women who are able to conceive but not carry a pregnancy to term may also be diagnosed with infertility. A woman who’s never been able to get pregnant will be diagnosed with pri ...

Causes of female infertility may include: Ovulation disorders, which affect the release of eggs from the ovaries. These include hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Hyperprolactinemia, a condition in which you have too much prolactin — the hormone that stimulates breast milk production — also may interfere with ovulation. Either too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too l ...

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 ...

Tubal factors Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes prevent sperm from getting to your egg and also prevent the fertilized egg from getting to your uterus. Leading causes of tube problems include pelvic inflammatory disease, sexually transmitted infections (such as chlamydia), and previous sterilization surgery. Possible symptoms: None. Possible solutions: Surgery to open the tubes. If surgery fail ...

Causes in women Infertility in women can also have a range of causes. Risk factors Risk factors that increase the risk include: Smoking significantly increases your risk of infertility Age: The ability to conceive starts to fall around the age of 32 years. Smoking: Smoking significantly increases the risk of infertility in both men and women, and it may undermine the effects of fertility treatme ...

Tubal occlusion (blockage): As discussed previously, a history of sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhea, or pelvic inflammatory disease can predispose a woman to having blocked fallopian tubes. Tubal occlusion is a cause of infertility because an ovulated egg is unable to be fertilized by sperm or to reach the endometrial cavity. If both tubes are blocked, then in vitro f ...

Blocked Fallopian tubes: Fallopian tubes are normally blocked by defect tissue or pelvic adhesions. Blocked fallopian tubes are a general cause of infertility. Sperm and an egg meet in the fallopian tube for fertilization, which allows the flow of egg cells from the ovaries to the uterus when it is free. To recognize the problem, doctors may use x-rays taken next a radiopaque contrast agent is sho ...