Infertility

What is infertility?

Clinically, infertility is when you’re unable to become — or remain — pregnant within 12 months of trying, or at six months if you are over the age of 35.

Several things need to happen at a precise time for conception to occur. Your ovaries need to produce and release a fertile egg, and it has to travel through your fallopian tubes. That egg cell needs to meet and join with a sperm cell and form a zygote during its journey to your womb. Finally, the zygote must implant in your uterine wall.

Issues at any stage of this process can interfere with your fertility. 

What causes infertility?

Women and men can have fertility issues. 

In women, some of the common causes of infertility include ovulation problems and physical issues with the fallopian tubes or uterus. For example, your ovaries might not produce viable eggs on a regular schedule. You might have a blockage in your fallopian tubes that prevents your egg from reaching the uterus. 

You might have fibroids, polyps, or another abnormality in your uterus that interferes with implantation. Endometriosis is another condition that can interfere with fertility, as endometrial tissue and scarring can occur on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and your cervix. 

Men’s fertility issues typically relate to the quantity and quality of their sperm. In some cases, there might not be an identifiable cause for your fertility issues. 

When should I talk to a doctor about infertility?

If you’re under the age of 35, you should make an appointment at Artemis OB/GYN if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year without success. If you’re 35 or older, you should make an appointment if you haven’t become pregnant within six months.

Additionally, if you have any reproductive health issues, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or fibroids, you should talk to your doctor for preconception counseling before you start to try to get pregnant.

How is the cause of infertility diagnosed?

Artemis OB/GYN provides comprehensive testing to identify the issue causing your fertility. Your doctor provides pelvic exams and blood tests to check for hormonal imbalances that could affect your ovulation. They might also suggest other diagnostic procedures like: 

• Ultrasound
• Hysteroscopy
• Laparoscopy

Your partner should also have their semen analyzed. 

How is infertility treated?

Your doctor provides customized advice on the best fertility treatment to help you grow your family. Infertility treatment depends on its cause. 

Artemis OB/GYN uses state-of-the-art technology, including robotic surgery, to treat reproductive health issues that can cause infertility. For example, your doctor could treat conditions like endometriosis by removing the lesions. While endometriosis can grow back, removing the abnormal tissue can increase your chances of conceiving. 

In other cases, your doctor might prescribe medication to stimulate your ovaries. Alternatively, they might recommend intrauterine insemination (IUI) to put sperm cells into your uterus at your most fertile time of the month.

In some cases, you might benefit from in vitro fertilization (IVF), which involves harvesting your egg cells and fertilizing them in a lab before placing them back into your uterus. 

Call Artemis OB/GYN or make an appointment online today if you’re concerned about your fertility.