Infertility Specialist

What causes infertility?

Infertility can be the result of female or male reproductive problems. In fact, about one-third of all cases are due to female infertility, one-third are related to male infertility, and for the rest of couples who experience infertility, there’s no known cause.

Female infertility causes

For women, infertility may occur when you have problems with ovulation, caused by conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a thyroid issue that affects your menstrual cycle, an eating disorder, or in a rare instance, a tumor.

Other causes of female infertility include:

• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Cervical abnormalities
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Early menopause (primary ovarian insufficiency)
• Pelvic scar tissue
• Reproductive cancers

Other factors that may affect your ability to get pregnant include your age, smoking, and alcohol use.

Male infertility causes

Men may have infertility issues that result from abnormal sperm production or function, environmental factors, drug and alcohol use, or cancer treatments. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may also cause male fertility problems. High blood pressure, depression, and frequent exposure to heat can raise male body temperature and decrease sperm production.

When should I seek treatment for infertility?

If you’ve been having sex regularly and not using any type of birth control for a year and you haven’t gotten pregnant, it may be a sign of a fertility problem. Also, if you’re over 35 years old and haven’t been able to conceive after six months of trying, it’s a good idea to seek evaluation to determine if you can benefit from fertility treatments.

Another indication that you may need treatment to conceive a baby is having an irregular menstrual cycle or an existing reproductive condition.

What infertility treatments are available?

Depending on the underlying causes of your infertility or your partner’s, your gynecologist may recommend a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and surgery. Surgery may be necessary to treat endometriosis or blocked or damaged fallopian tubes. Or you may need a surgical procedure to remove fibroids from your uterus.

If the cause of infertility is hormone-related, balancing your hormone levels may help resolve problems with ovulation. Gonadotropins administered as a series of shots and oral medications can also help trigger ovulation so your body releases eggs to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

Male infertility treatment may include lifestyle changes, medications, or surgery.

If you’ve had trouble conceiving, don’t lose hope. Many couples eventually conceive children even after struggling with fertility issues.

Contact Womens Health Care, PC, by phone or through the online booking tool to schedule a consultation.