Infertility

What is infertility? A couple is considered infertile after a year of unprotected intercourse without getting pregnant.  Because age is a major cause of infertility, the criteria for women over 34 is 6 months of unprotected intercourse without conceiving.  If you’re coping with infertility, you’re not alone. One out of every eight couples in the U.S. is infertile.

The causes of infertility is different for every person.   40% will find male infertility to be the problem, 40% will discover female infertility is the cause, in 30% of the cases both couples will have problems and the remaining 20% of couples will be diagnosed with unexplained infertility.  There are a few different causes of infertility- from Endometriosis and PCOS for woman, and varicocele for men, but no matter what the cause of infertility, there is help.

The treatment for infertility can range from low-tech procedures like a Clomiphene Citrate cycle to high-tech procedures like IVF and ICSI.  The first step towards treatment for infertility is to visit a infertility clinic.  Infertility clinics are able to provide specialized testing, and a reproductive endocrinologist and urologist when then help you decide what infertility treatment is right for you.

Infertility tests will most likely include a series of blood tests for both the man and woman, a semen analysis for male infertility and possibly a vaginal ultrasound so the infertility specialist, or reproductive endocrinologist, will be able to see any potential problems.

Coping with infertility is challenging- both emotionally and physically. But there are infertility support groups to help you through this journey.  You can also find a mental health professional who specializes in infertility support by searching through our Professional Network.