Infertility Overview
What is Infertility?
Infertility is the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. Repeated pregnancy loss (≥2 spontaneous pregnancy losses) is also considered to be included in this definition. If you and your partner are having trouble getting pregnant, the best opportunity for evaluation and treatment is from a physician with a special interest and expertise in the area of infertility, a reproductive endocrinologist. A woman may initially seek help from an obstetrician/gynecologist and a man from an urologist. If treatment from these doctors does not result in pregnancy, then both partners may seek treatment from a reproductive endocrinologist.
When should we seek treatment for infertility?
For most people attempting to become pregnant, the chance of conceiving is approximately 25 percent in the first month of trying. By the end of the first year of trying, 85 percent to 90 percent of couples will conceive. Couples should seek medical help if they are unable to achieve pregnancy following one year (six months if the woman’s age is over 35) of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. Women with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, miscarriage, or irregular or painful menstrual cycles, or men with a known low sperm count, also should consult with their physicians.
How common is infertility?
Infertility occurs among both men and women with 35-45% of the cases being attributed to female factors, 15-35% to male factors, 15-25% by a combination of problems involving both partners and 10-20% by infertility which cannot be explained. The most recent estimates indicate infertility affects more than six million American women and men, which represents 10 percent of the population in their childbearing years.
What treatments are available for infertility?
Thanks to developments during the past decade, the majority of couples who seek medical attention for infertility are able to conceive. Treatments include medications, minor laboratory or office procedures, surgical procedures, and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) depending on the individual situation. Your doctor can determine which treatment options are best for you and your partner.
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