What is infertility? Healthcare providers consider a couple infertile if they try but fail to get pregnant within one year. When the woman is older than 35, the amount of time trying to conceive drops to six months for an infertility diagnosis. In women over 40, immediate evaluation is warranted. Infertility does not include miscarrying or being unable to carry a baby to childbirth. What causes i ...

Assisted reproductive technologies — There are several variations of these high-tech methods in which sperm and egg are combined to maximize the chances of achieving a successful pregnancy. All of the variations involve two steps — beginning with the woman taking fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries to produce several eggs (superovulation); followed by the use of procedures to retrieve them, w ...

Men Men should plan to see a doctor after one year of trying to conceive or if any of the following apply: erectile dysfunction (ED) problems with ejaculation, such as delayed ejaculation or retrograde ejaculation low sex drive pain or swelling in the genital area having undergone a previous surgery in the genital area Your doctor will first take your medical history. During this time, they’ll as ...

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 on ...

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 ...

Outlook on infertility: Being diagnosed with infertility doesn’t mean that your dreams of having a child have come to an end. It may take some time, but a number of couples who experience infertility will eventually be able to have a child. Some will do so on their own, while others will need medical assistance. The treatment that’s right for you and your partner will depend on many factors, incl ...

What can I do to promote female fertility? Healthy lifestyle choices can help you promote fertility. Take steps to: Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or significantly underweight can inhibit normal ovulation. Prevent sexually transmitted infections. Infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea are a leading cause of infertility for women. Avoid the night shift, if possible. Regularly work ...

Men: Male infertility can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the cause. Treatment options for men can include surgery, medication, and assisted reproductive technology (ART). Surgery can fix obstructions that are preventing sperm from being present in the ejaculate. It can also correct conditions such as varicocele. In some cases, sperm can be retrieved directly from the testicles afte ...