Infertility means that you haven't been able to get pregnant after trying for at least 1 year (or 6 months if you're over 35). It doesn't mean you'll never get pregnant.
Your chances of getting pregnant are higher when you are younger. You are most able to get pregnant (fertile) in your late 20s. Then, in your mid-30s, you become less fertile. This is because your eggs get older.
Trouble getting pregnant can be caused by a problem with the reproductive organs. Talk with your doctor about testing and treatment. Testing will likely start with hormone and semen testing.
There is a wide range of treatment options. They include medicines, surgery, insemination, and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after trying for at least 1 year (or 6 months if you're over 35).
It can be caused by problems inside the body. But sometimes no cause can be found.
Being told that you have this problem doesn't necessarily mean that you will never get pregnant. Some people eventually conceive without help. But medical treatments do help many people.
If you aren't able to get pregnant after a year of trying (or 6 months, if you're over 35), your doctor may suggest testing and treatment. But some people who have tried treatment without success become pregnant later without more treatment.
The main symptom of infertility is being unable to get pregnant after 6 to 12 months of trying, depending on your age.
A wide range of treatments may be used for infertility. Depending on the cause, they include:
You may also consider in vitro fertilization (IVF). During IVF, eggs and sperm are mixed in a lab to fertilize the eggs. Then the doctor puts one or more fertilized eggs into the uterus.
Treatment for fertility problems can be stressful and costly. Before you start, think about how far you're willing to go with treatment. You may change your mind later, but it's a good idea to start with a plan.
Weight loss may help improve ovulation in people with PCOS who are overweight. The medicines clomiphene and letrozole can also be used to help with ovulation. If that doesn't work, other medicines may help. If weight loss and medicines don’t work, surgery or IVF may sometimes be an option.
Sometimes infertility is related to lifestyle or other health conditions. To help protect your fertility:
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and hope to have children in the future, talk to your doctor about your options to help preserve fertility.
To check for fertility problems, a doctor can:
If your test results show no cause of infertility, your doctor may recommend checking the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
Before you have fertility tests, it may help to try fertility awareness. Chart basal body temperature and use home tests to learn when you are likely to ovulate and be fertile. Some people find that they have been missing the most fertile days when trying to conceive.
Medicine or hormone treatments are often the first steps in fertility treatment. They're also used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies. Medicines include:
For your first fertility questions and testing, you can see:
For complete fertility testing, see an obstetrician/gynecologist with special training and experience in fertility problems. This doctor may be called a reproductive endocrinologist or fertility specialist. When looking for a specialist, ask what percentage of a doctor's practice is fertility treatment. Also ask if the doctor has training in reproductive endocrinology.
For some people with infertility, a structural problem can be treated with surgery. Treatment can increase the chances of natural conception.
When thinking about surgery, ask your doctor questions about the procedure. For example, how many times has the surgeon done it? What are the chances that the treatment will be a success? How long will it take to recover?
Surgery may include:
Things that increase your risk for infertility include:
When you have infertility, you may feel alone, confused, or scared. Talking with others about your feelings can help. Here are some places you may find support.
Complementary medicine may help you stay well and cope with infertility. Complementary medicine for fertility includes:
Talk with your doctor about any complementary health practice that you would like to try or are already using. Your doctor can help you manage your health better if they know about all of your health practices.
Infertility (fertility problems) affects the reproductive system. It means not being able to get pregnant. You may have fertility problems if you haven't been able to get pregnant after trying for at least 1 year (or 6 months if you're over 35). It doesn't always mean you'll never get pregnant. Some people conceive without help in their second year of trying. Some don't succeed. But medical treatments do help many people.
Age is an important factor in deciding whether to get testing and treatment for fertility problems. Female fertility is highest in the late 20s. After age 35, fertility decreases and the risk of miscarriage goes up. Most people should give themselves a year of trying to get pregnant before they will need medical help. But if you're older than 35, consider getting help after 6 months of trying.
Infertility may be caused by:
Rates of infertility and miscarriage increase with age. Female fertility peaks in the late 20s. It slowly starts to decline in the early 30s. A larger drop in fertility and increase in miscarriage risk begins around the mid-30s. This is mainly because of the aging egg supply. Male fertility also decreases with age. But it's a more gradual decline.
To decrease your risk of fertility problems and increase your chances of becoming pregnant, use the following guidelines.
This can improve the chance of pregnancy.
Very strenuous exercise can cause you to ovulate less often.
This includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.
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