Infertility

About 10 percent of women (6.1 million), between the ages of ages 15-44, in the United States have a difficult time becoming pregnant or staying pregnant.

Infertility is when a women is not able to to become pregnant after a year of trying (or six months if a woman is 35 or older).

Infertility also includes if a woman continues to have miscarriages or stillbirths.

Infertility can affect both women and men. Infertility also means if a man has not been able to get a woman pregnant after at least one year of trying.

Infertility is common. After one year of having unprotected sex, about 15 percent of couples are not able to become pregnant. About a third of the time, infertility is due to the woman. In another third of cases, it is due to the man. The rest of the time, infertility is may be due to both partners or there is not a cause that can be found.

There are specific treatments for men and for women, but some treatments will involve both women and males. Treatments may include medications, surgery, artificial insemination, or assisted reproductive technologies. After treatments, many couples are able to have babies.

Both women and men can have problems that cause infertility.

About a third of the time, infertility can be due to the woman.

• Female infertility can result from:
• • Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy
  • Physical problems with the uterus
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Hormone problems
  • Lifestyle or environmental factors
  • Ovulation problem
  • • Most cases of infertility in women are due to problems with ovulation such as:
    • • Premature ovarian failure -the ovaries stop working early
      • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)- irregular release of an egg or releases unhealthy eggs

In another third of cases, infertility is due to the man.

• Infertility is when a man has not been able to get a woman pregnant after at least one year of trying. Causes of male infertility may include:
• • Physical problems with the testicles
  • Movement of the sperm
  • Not able to produce enough sperm
  • A block in the ducts that carry sperm
  • Hormone problems
  • A history of high fevers or mumps
  • Genetic disorders
  • Lifestyle or environmental factors

The rest of the time, infertility may be due to both partners or there is not a cause that can be found.

Talk with your doctor if you have not conceived after a year of trying, or after six months if the woman is 35 or older, or with repeated miscarriages. Both partners can be evaluated, and many causes are treatable.