Infertility

What is infertility?

In the medical world, you're infertile if you have been trying unsuccessfully to become pregnant for at least one year. If you are over 35, you're infertile if you have been trying for six months.

What causes infertility?

Infertility can affect either partner or sometimes both partners. With men, the reason is usually related to a problem with sperm, such as a low count or low motility.

Ovulation disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome account for many cases of women’s infertility. These disorders hinder the release of eggs from the ovaries. Other causes include:

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
• Endometriosis
• Abnormal uterus or cervix
• Early menopause

Sometimes, no particular reason for infertility can be found.

What are some risk factors for infertility?

Some of the same factors affect the ability of both men and women to have children.

• Smoking
• Alcohol use
• Lack of exercise
• Too much exercise

Age, too, is a factor: fertility begins to decline for women in their mid-30s, and a man tends to become less fertile after 40.

What can you expect from your fertility treatment?

First, one of the expert providers at OB-GYN Associates PC meets with you and your partner to obtain medical histories. You’ll receive a physical exam and several tests which may include blood tests, hormone evaluations, and biopsies, among other possibilities.

The HSG test might also help diagnose your infertility. With the use of a special dye, this test reveals blockages in Fallopian tubes as well as polyps, fibroids, or other abnormalities of the uterus.

Once the team evaluates your financial, emotional, and medical situations, they work with you and your partner to devise your best fertility treatment plan.

OB-GYN Associates PC provides the latest reproductive technologies. For example, intrauterine insemination (IUI), also known as artificial insemination, involves an injection into the uterus, increasing the chances of fertilization. Other procedures include tubal ligation reversal and the use of medicine to stimulate ovulation.

Half of all couples who seek help for infertility can have a baby eventually, sometimes on their own, sometimes with medical assistance. If you’re feeling discouraged, it’s worth seeking fertility treatment.

Don’t give up on your dreams for a family. Contact OB-GYN Associates PC to start your fertility treatment plan. Call the office today, or book your appointment online.