What is infertility?
If you’re under 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for one year, or over 35 and have been trying for six months or more, you’re considered to be infertile. According to the NIH, about 11% of women of reproductive age and 9% of men have experienced infertility at some point.
Just because you’re infertile, however, doesn’t mean that you won’t eventually conceive. The experts at Ob-Gyne Associates of Lake Forest, Ltd., conduct examinations and tests to determine the source of your fertility problems, and then devise a customized treatment plan for you, your partner, or both.
Why am I having trouble getting pregnant?
Whether you have primary infertility (you’ve never had a baby) or secondary infertility (you’ve had one or more children, but are having trouble conceiving again), many factors can affect your fertility. Some of the reasons that you aren’t conceiving could include:
- You or your partner’s age
- Ovulation and menstruation problems
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Egg maturation problems
- Implantation failure
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Health conditions or infections
Your partner may also have problems with his sperm count, sperm motility, or have structural problems that interfere with the production or propulsion of sperm. He may also have an underlying disorder, disease, or infection that impairs fertility.
Which tests evaluate fertility?
Your OB/GYN may administer a number of tests to you and your partner to determine the source of your infertility. In addition to a comprehensive physical examination, you may undergo:
- Blood tests to determine your hormone levels
- In-office transvaginal pelvic ultrasound to evaluate your uterus and ovaries
- Hysterosalpingogram to evaluate your Fallopian tubes
- Endometrial biopsy
Your partner’s sperm count and motility may also be evaluated as part of a fertility workup.
How do doctors treat infertility?
In most cases, simple treatments help boost your fertility so that you can have a baby. Depending on the factors involved in your infertility, your OB/GYN might recommend:
- Hormone therapy
- Surgery to repair or unblock Fallopian tubes
- Surgical removal of fibroids or polyps
- Endometrial ablation
- Surgery to improve or remove scar tissue
- Medications to enhance fertility
If you still aren’t able to become pregnant, your OB/GYN can refer you to a fertility clinic.
To learn more about your fertility, contact the OB/GYN experts at Ob-Gyne Associates of Lake Forest, Ltd. by calling or requesting an appointment online.
