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 ...

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 ...

In vitro fertilization: (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos) are transferred to a uterus. One full cycle of IVF takes about three weeks. Sometimes th ...

Diagnosis Most people will visit a physician if there is no pregnancy after 12 months of trying. If the woman is aged over 35 years, the couple may wish to see a doctor earlier, because fertility testing can take time, and female fertility starts to drop when a woman is in her 30s. Some facts about conception and fertility A doctor can give advice and carry out some preliminary assessments. It ...

Problems Conceiving Getting pregnant may seem simple, but the act of conceiving a child can often be very difficult. It involves many bodily functions and systems being in good condition in both the male and the female, all of which must happen in the right sequence and at the right time. Consider that the average woman of reproductive age only has a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant in any m ...

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 ...

Assisted conception The following methods are currently available for assisted or artificial conception: Intrauterine insemination (IUI): At the time of ovulation, a doctor inserts a fine catheter through the cervix into the uterus to place a sperm sample directly into the uterus. In vitro fertilization (IVF): Doctors place the sperm with unfertilized eggs in a petri dish, where fertilization can ...

Ovulation is the release of an egg from one of the ovaries. It often happens about midway through the menstrual cycle, although the exact timing may vary. In preparation for ovulation, the lining of the uterus, or endometrium, thickens. The pituitary gland in the brain stimulates one of the ovaries to release an egg. The wall of the ovarian follicle ruptures at the surface of the ovary. The egg i ...