Infertility is defined as not becoming pregnant after 1 year of having regular sexual intercourse without the use of birth control. For women who are less than 35 years of age evaluation should start after one year of trying. If you are over 35, only wait for 6 months, and if you are older than 40, evaluation and possible treatment are recommended before you reach the 6-month mark.
What causes infertility?
The most common cause of female infertility is lack of or irregular ovulation. The most common causes of male infertility are problems in the testes that affect how sperm are made or how they function.
Age is a major factor in infertility. For healthy couples in their 20s or early 30s, the chance that a woman will become pregnant is about 25–30% in any single menstrual cycle. By age 40 years, a woman’s chance of getting pregnant decreases to less than 10% per menstrual cycle. A man’s fertility also declines with age, but not as predictably.
Lifestyle factors also can play a role in infertility. In women, being underweight, being overweight, or exercising too much may be associated with infertility. In both men and women, drinking alcohol at moderate or heavy levels may be a factor in infertility.
What treatment options are available for infertility?
Your treatment options will depend on the cause of your infertility. Lifestyle changes, medication, surgery, or other approaches may be recommended. Some treatments may be combined to improve results. Infertility often can be successfully treated even if no cause is found.
Some common treatments include:
- Ovulation induction, which uses medication to help your ovaries release an egg. This treatment is used when ovulation is irregular or does not occur at all and other causes have been ruled out. If pregnancy is not achieved after 4 cycles of ovulation induction, I will refer you to a specialist for further treatment such as IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in-vitro fertilization).
- Hysteroscopy for removal of an endometrial polyp or septum.
- For some women simple lifestyle changes may be needed, such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy non-allergenic diet, eliminating illegal drugs, excessive alcohol use or smoking.
- Hormonal manipulation.
- Surgical procedures may be needed such as removing fibroids or polyps from your uterus or Laparoscopic procedures that will repair blocked or damaged fallopian tubes or remove endometriosis from the pelvis.
- What else should I know about infertility treatment?
- Infertility treatment takes time, and it can have high costs. It takes a big commitment from both partners. Some treatments are expensive and may not be covered by insurance.