Infertility Causes and Treatments
Infertility is defined as the inability for a couple to conceive after one year of normal intercourse with no contraception. Approximately one out of six couples in the United States experience difficulty conceiving and struggle with infertility during their childbearing years. Infertility factors affect both males and females equally.
As stated by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, “Conception is a complicated process that depends upon many factors: on the production of healthy sperm by the man and healthy eggs by the woman; unblocked fallopian tubes that allow the sperm to reach the egg; the sperm's ability to fertilize the egg when they meet; the ability of the fertilized egg (embryo) to become implanted in the woman's uterus; and sufficient embryo quality. Finally, for the pregnancy to continue to full term, the embryo must be healthy and the woman's hormonal environment adequate for its development. When just one of these factors is impaired, infertility can result.”
Male and Female Infertility Causes
Chances are that you have already talked with your gynecologist about trying to improve your chances of conceiving, and, perhaps you know the roadblock that is preventing you from achieving your dreams.
Several infertility diagnoses can preclude you from getting pregnant. Those include, but are not limited to endometriosis, egg quality issues, advanced maternal age, male factor infertility issues such as a low or zero sperm count, uterine abnormalities, or previous surgeries, infections or injuries.
New treatments for couples having difficulty conceiving
With the advent of new medical procedures, couples who otherwise might not be able to conceive on their own are now able to create the family they so desire.
At The Fertility Center, we see patients each day who are experiencing difficulty conceiving as a result of infertility issues such as those listed above. Our recommended treatment will vary according to your specific needs, but we provide basic to advanced infertility care that includes non-traditional treatments, such as acupuncture, as well as more traditional treatments including In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), advanced endometriosis care, and donor embryo programs.
Increase your knowledge on infertility
Being a well-informed patient will help to ease your concerns, and will give you a realistic expectation as to an outcome of Assisted Reproductive Technologies such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and ZIFT. We hope the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Dictionary and Sample Cycle help you in your search for knowledge on male and female infertility.
The information on this website shouldn't be a replacement for a consultation with a fertility specialist, but hopefully it will be able to give you more information on the issues that can lead to male and female infertility as well as available infertility treatment options. To learn more about infertility and treatment options at west Michigan’s The Fertility Center, schedule an initial consultation with either Doctor Dodds or Doctor Young by calling (877) 904-4483.
Information from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine under the direction of the Patient Education Committee and the Publications Committee. This information is in no way intended to replace, dictate, or fully define evaluation and treatment by a qualified physician. It is intended solely as an aid for patients seeking general information on issues in reproductive medicine. Copyright 1995 by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.