FERTILITY DESK

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What is infertility?

Although it sounds scary, being infertile doesn't mean you'll never conceive a child – it's not the same as being sterile. You get an infertility diagnosis if you haven't become pregnant after 12 months of unprotected sex (or if you haven't been able to get your partner pregnant within that same time frame). But there's a good chance you'll conceive later, either with or without medical help. Not coincidentally, 12 months is also how long experts recommend trying to conceive before seeing a specialist. If you're 35 or older, doctors recommend seeing a specialist after just six months, even though you wouldn't be diagnosed with infertility until a year has passed. However, some women shouldn't wait the recommended 6 or 12 months: Consult your ob-gyn sooner if you have a history of endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, structural issues with your reproductive system, very irregular cycles, miscarriage, or if your partner has a know

Does a past abortion affect my chances of getting pregnant?

Probably not. However, in rare cases, multiple dilations and curettages (the cleaning out of the uterus, also known as a D&C) can cause scarring at the top of the cervix or inside the uterus. A procedure called hysteroscopy (when a small camera is placed through your cervix into your uterine cavity) can check for this problem and usually repair the scar tissue at the same time. But even if that's not the case for you, you should know that any procedure that dilates the cervix – a necessary step during most abortions – can weaken it. So if you've had more than one abortion and you get pregnant again later on, you may find that you have what's known as an incompetent cervix, a cervix that starts dilating prematurely. This can sometimes be treated with a stitch to keep the cervix closed, called a cerclage. On the bright side, having conceived before proves that you ovulate and that your fallopian tubes are open.

Common causes of fertility problems in men

About 11 percent of reproductive-age couples in the United States have trouble conceiving or sustaining a pregnancy. About one-third of these cases are due to male fertility problems, about one-third are related to female fertility problems, and the rest are due to factors involving both partners or to unexplained causes. If you've had regular, unprotected sex for more than a year (or six months if you're older than 35) without conceiving, see your doctor. About 65 percent of couples that get treatment for a fertility problem are eventually able to have a successful pregnancy, according to Resolve, the national infertility association. A fertility specialist will usually give you and your partner an initial examination. If a semen analysis isn't normal, or if anything in your medical or reproductive history indicates you need a more thorough evaluation, you may be referred to a urologist or other male reproduction specialist who can recommend treatment and help you

Common causes of fertility problems in women

Eleven percent of reproductive-age couples in the United States have trouble conceiving or sustaining a pregnancy. About one-third of these cases are due to female fertility problems, one-third to male fertility problems, and the rest to factors involving both partners or to unexplained causes. If you've had regular, unprotected sex for more than a year without conceiving (or six months if you're older than 35), see your doctor. About 65 percent of couples that get treatment for a fertility problem are eventually able to have a successful pregnancy, according to Resolve, the national infertility association. The success rates below are based on averages gathered from large groups of patients. Each couple is unique, so think of the success rate for any treatment as a general snapshot, not a prediction of your chances of having a baby. Read on to learn more about female infertility and available fertility treatments. Ovulation problems An ovulation problem occurs w

Sex positions for baby-making

Are some sexual positions better than others for conceiving? There's no evidence that any particular sexual position is more likely to lead to conception. You may have heard that some positions, such as the missionary position (man on top), are more promising than others because sperm is deposited closest to the cervix, but there aren't any scientific studies to back this up. Proper timing , on the other hand, is a crucial

Fertility drugs for women

What are common fertility drugs for women? Your doctor may have you try one of these standard medications, which may be all you need to get pregnant: Clomiphene works by stimulating the hormones in your brain that trigger an egg (or several) to develop and be released from your ovaries. Gonadotropins stimulate your ovaries directly to produce an egg (or several). Some women need to combine these drugs with intrauterine insemination (IUI) or an assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Women undergoing IVF also take other types of fertility medications to prepare the lining of the uterus for pregnancy and to prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs early. How does fertility medication differ? That depends on the woman and why she's having trouble getting pregnant. For instance, women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) generally respond well to clomiphene, but those who don't may be given the insulin-sensitizi