Information on Female Infertility

There are many different types of infertility experienced by women. Many of the fertility problems can be easily treated. However, the sooner you get a diagnosis, the better your prognosis will be. In this section, you'll find explanations for numerous female infertility disorders. Many women trying to conceive for the first time panic if their periods continue for even three or four months. But the standard definition of infertility is unsuccessful conception after an entire year of unprotected intercourse.

Infertility is usually defined as not being able to get pregnant despite trying for one year. A broader view of infertility includes not being able to carry a pregnancy to term. Problems with ovulation account for most infertility in women. Signs of problems with ovulation include irregular menstrual periods or no periods. Simple lifestyle factors, including stress, diet, or athletic training can affect a woman's hormonal balance. Follow the links below to find information on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of female infertility.

A basic infertility evaluation includes a history focused on fertility factors, physical examination, and laboratory evaluation. The evaluation should determine if the partner can produce normal semen, if the fallopian tubes are open, and if the ovaries are able to produce eggs that are likely to establish a pregnancy. The three most important laboratory evaluations are a semen analysis, baseline (day 3) FSH to determine the "ovarian reserve," and a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to insure that the tubes are open.

If getting pregnant has been a challenge for you and your partner, you're not alone. Ten percent to 15 percent of couples in the United States are infertile. Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year.

If you've been trying to conceive for more than a year, there's a chance that something may be interfering with your efforts to have a child. Infertility may be due to a single cause in either you or your partner, or a combination of factors that may prevent a pregnancy from occurring or continuing.

Blockage of the fallopian tubes can be suggested on a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), but it is important to do a laparoscopy to confirm whether this is the case or not. Sometimes inadequate pressure when inserting the dye during a HSG can lead to a suggestion of blockage when one doesn�t exist. Laparoscopy also gives the opportunity of taking a close look at the tubes to decide on the usefulness of tubal surgery to open them. The most common cause of blocked tubes is infection, and the most common infection implicated is chlamydia. About 70% of women who have blocked tubes have had a chlamydia infection, though half the time it will have been silent and they will not have even been aware of it.

In the past several years, fertility specialists have made great strides in diagnosing and treating infertility. Surgery and hormone therapy can correct some infertility problems. If those methods fail, doctors now have access to more advanced procedures, collectively known as Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). For many couples, ART is the best chance and last hope for achieving pregnancy. The evaluation and treatment of infertility requires a great deal of time, resources, and energy. It requires the participation of the couple, physicians, nurses, technicians, counselors, and many others.