What is Infertility?
Infertility is the
inability of a couple to conceive
a child after trying for at least
one year. Infertility is not the same
thing as sterility, however. With
the proper treatment, many infertile
couples are eventually able to have
children.
Approximately
one-third of infertility
cases stem from female conditions,
another third from male conditions,
and the rest from unexplained causes
or a combination of male and female
factors.
Who
can be affected by infertility?
About 10% of couples
have fertility problems. Infertility
can have a wide range of causes and
can affect almost anyone. Male infertility
and female infertility occur with
equal frequency. Infertility is most
likely to affect couples where the
woman is over the age of 35, although
young couples may also struggle to
conceive.
What
are the treatments for infertility?
Infertility
doctors can provide many different
treatments for infertility.
The doctor’s recommended form
of treatment is based on the cause
of infertility (if it is known) and
other factors. If you are considering
fertility treatment, you should consider
consulting with a fertility specialist.
The three most common
ways to treat infertility are ovulation
induction, artificial insemination,
and assisted reproductive technology
(ART).
Ovulation Induction
– If the woman is not ovulating
on her own, artificially inducing
ovulation may help her conceive. Ovulation
induction is typically done using
fertility drugs. It may be an appropriate
procedure for women whose menstrual
cycles are not regular and for women
who are not ovulating for other reasons.
Artificial Insemination
– Often used for cases of male
factor infertility, artificial insemination
is the procedure by which sperm are
injected directly into the woman’s
vagina or uterus. Intrauterine insemination
tends to produce the best results.
Assisted
Reproductive Technology – ART
procedures are the most advanced fertility
treatments available. The most common
ART infertility treatments include:
In ART procedures,
the egg is removed from the woman’s
body and is joined with the sperm.
The stage at which the fertilized
egg is re-implanted in the woman’s
uterus is part of what differentiates
the procedures.
To
Find an Infertility Specialist, Click
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