BLASTOCYST: In the past most embryos produced with IVF were transferred on day three of development, known as cleavage stage. When an embryo reaches five days of development it is called a blastocyst. Currently, with advances in understanding of the needs of developing embryos, the ability to produce blastocysts in the laboratory has increased. This extended culture time allows nature to help sele ...

There are lots of myths about getting pregnant and infertility. Chances are you've heard a lot of them from relatives and friends who were just trying to make you feel better. But when you're trying to conceive, it is important to separate fact from myths. In fact, it's crucial to do so because believing some of those myths could prevent you from getting the care and treatment you need. MYTH: Inf ...

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. Having erection trouble from time to time isn't necessarily a cause for concern. If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems. Problems getting or keeping an erection can also be a sign of an underlying ...

Risk factors Certain factors may put you at higher risk of infertility, including: Age. The quality and quantity of a woman's eggs begin to decline with age. In the mid-30s, the rate of follicle loss speeds, resulting in fewer and poorer quality eggs. This makes conception more difficult, and increases the risk of miscarriage. Smoking. Besides damaging your cervix and fallopian tubes, smoking inc ...

GENETIC TESTING: Depending on the type of test, a sample of your blood, skin, amniotic fluid or other tissue will be collected and sent to a lab for analysis. Blood sample. A member of your health care team takes the sample by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm. For newborn screening tests, a blood sample is taken by pricking your baby's heel. Cheek swab. For some tests, a swab sample fro ...

What Tests to be done for Endometriosis? I have chronic pelvic pain and think I might have endometriosis. What tests should I expect? Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus (the endometrium) grows outside your uterus. But many conditions can cause pelvic pain. So, you might need a variety of tests to help your ...

Ovulation disorders Ovulation disorders, meaning you ovulate infrequently or not at all, account for infertility in about 1 in 4 infertile couples. Problems with the regulation of reproductive hormones by the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, or problems in the ovary, can cause ovulation disorders. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS causes a hormone imbalance, which affects ovulation. PCOS ...

What are some possible causes of female infertility? Getting pregnant and carrying a pregnancy to term are actually very complicated processes. Many things can go wrong during these processes to lead to infertility. For this reason, the following list includes only some of the common causes of infertility in females; it is not meant to be all-inclusive. A woman who is having difficulty getting pre ...