Useful Faq's<\/h2>![\"\"](\"\")
<\/span><\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”40px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]1. What is infertility?<\/a><\/h5>Most experts define\u00a0infertility<\/a>\u00a0as not being able to\u00a0get pregnant<\/a> after at least one year of trying. Women who are able to\u00a0get pregnant<\/a>\u00a0but then have repeat\u00a0miscarriages<\/a>\u00a0are also said to be infertile.<\/p>\nPregnancy<\/a>\u00a0is the result of a complex chain of events. In order to\u00a0get pregnant<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n- A woman must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation<\/a>).<\/li>\n
- The egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the uterus (womb).<\/li>\n
- A man’s\u00a0sperm<\/a>\u00a0must join with (fertilize) the egg along the way.<\/li>\n
- The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Infertility<\/a>\u00a0can result from problems that interfere with any of these steps.<\/p><\/div><\/div>2. Is infertility just a woman's problem?<\/a><\/h5>No, infertility is not always a woman’s problem. In about one-third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factors). In another third of cases, infertility is due to the man (male factors). The remaining cases are caused by a mixture of male and female factors or by unknown factors.<\/p><\/div><\/div>
3. What causes infertility in men?<\/a><\/h5>Infertility in men is most often caused by:<\/p>\n\n- Problems making sperm — producing too few sperm or none at all<\/li>\n
- Problems with the sperm’s ability to reach the egg and fertilize it — abnormal sperm shape or structure prevent it from moving correctly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sometimes a man is born with the problems that affect his sperm. Other times problems start later in life due to illness or injury. For example,\u00a0cystic fibrosis<\/a>\u00a0often causes infertility in men.<\/div><\/div>4. What increases a man's risk of infertility?<\/a><\/h5>The number and quality of a man’s sperm can be affected by his overall health and lifestyle. Some things that may reduce sperm number and\/or quality include:<\/p>\n\n- Alcohol<\/li>\n
- Drugs<\/li>\n
- Environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead<\/li>\n
- Smoking<\/a>\u00a0cigarettes<\/li>\n
- Health problems<\/li>\n
- Medicines<\/li>\n
- Radiation<\/a>\u00a0treatment and\u00a0chemotherapy<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0cancer<\/a><\/li>\n
- Age<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
5. What causes infertility in women?<\/a><\/h5>Problems with\u00a0ovulation<\/a>\u00a0account for most cases of infertility in women. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.<\/p>\nLess common causes of fertility problems in women include:<\/p>\n
\n- Blocked fallopian tubes due to\u00a0pelvic inflammatory disease<\/a>,\u00a0endometriosis<\/a>, or surgery for an\u00a0ectopic pregnancy<\/a><\/li>\n
- Physical problems with the uterus<\/li>\n
- Uterine fibroids<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
6. What things increase a woman's risk of infertility?<\/a><\/h5>Many things can affect a woman’s ability to have a baby. These include:<\/p>\n\n- Age<\/li>\n
- Stress<\/li>\n
- Poor diet<\/li>\n
- Athletic training<\/li>\n
- Being\u00a0overweight<\/a>\u00a0or underweight<\/li>\n
- Tobacco<\/a>\u00a0smoking<\/a><\/li>\n
- Alcohol<\/li>\n
- Sexually transmitted diseases<\/a>\u00a0(STDs<\/a>)<\/li>\n
- Health problems that cause hormonal changes<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
7. How does age affect a woman's ability to have children?<\/a><\/h5>More and more women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children. Actually, about 20% of women in the United States now have their first child after age 35. So age is an increasingly common cause of fertility problems. About one-third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems.<\/p>\n
Aging decreases a woman’s chances of\u00a0having a baby<\/a>\u00a0in the following ways:<\/p>\n\n- The ability of a woman’s ovaries to release eggs ready for fertilization declines with age.<\/li>\n
- The health of a woman’s eggs declines with age.<\/li>\n
- As a woman ages she is more likely to have health problems that can interfere with fertility.<\/li>\n
- As a women ages, her risk of having a miscarriage increases.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>
8. How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors?<\/a><\/h5>Most\u00a0healthy women<\/a>\u00a0under the age of 30 shouldn’t worry about infertility unless they’ve been trying to get pregnant for at least a year. At this point, women should talk to their doctors about a fertility evaluation. Men should also talk to their doctors if this much time has passed.<\/p>\nIn some cases, women should talk to their doctors sooner. Women in their 30s who’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months should speak to their doctors as soon as possible. A woman’s chances of\u00a0having a baby<\/a> decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30. So getting a complete and timely fertility evaluation is especially important.<\/p>\nSome health issues also increase the risk of fertility problems. So women with the following issues should speak to their doctors as soon as possible:<\/p>\n
\n- Irregular periods<\/a>\u00a0or no menstrual periods<\/li>\n
- Very painful periods<\/li>\n
- Endometriosis<\/a><\/li>\n
- Pelvic inflammatory disease<\/li>\n
- More than one miscarriage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
No matter how old you are, it’s always a good idea to talk to a doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Doctors can help you prepare your body for a\u00a0healthy baby<\/a>. They can also answer questions on fertility and give tips on conceiving.<\/div><\/div>9. How will doctors find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems?<\/a><\/h5>Sometimes doctors can find the cause of a couple’s infertility by doing a complete fertility evaluation. This process usually begins with physical exams and health and sexual histories. If there are no obvious problems, like poorly timed intercourse or absence of ovulation, tests will be needed.<\/p>\n
Finding the\u00a0cause of infertility<\/a>\u00a0is often a long, complex, and emotional process. It can take months for you and your doctor to complete all the needed exams and tests. So don’t be alarmed if the problem is not found right away.<\/p>\nFor a man, doctors usually begin by testing his semen. They look at the number, shape, and movement of the sperm. Sometimes doctors also suggest testing the level of a man’s hormones.<\/p>\n
For a woman, the first step in testing is to find out if she is ovulating each month. There are several ways to do this. A woman can track her ovulation at home by:<\/p>\n
\n- Recording changes in her morning\u00a0body temperature<\/a>\u00a0(basal body temperature) for several months<\/li>\n
- Recording the texture of her cervical mucus for several months<\/li>\n
- Using a home ovulation test kit (available at drug or grocery stores)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Doctors can also check if a woman is ovulating by doing\u00a0blood<\/a>\u00a0tests and an\u00a0ultrasound<\/a>\u00a0of the ovaries. If the woman is ovulating normally, more tests are needed.<\/p>\nSome common tests of fertility in women include:<\/p>\n
\n- Hysterosalpingography: In this test, doctors use X-rays to check for physical problems of the uterus and fallopian tubes. They start by injecting a special dye through the\u00a0vagina<\/a>\u00a0into the uterus. This dye shows up on the X-ray. This allows the doctor to see if the dye moves normally through the uterus into the fallopian tubes. With these X-rays doctors can find blockages that may be causing infertility. Blockages can prevent the egg from moving from the fallopian tube to the uterus. Blockages can also keep the sperm from reaching the egg.<\/li>\n
- Laparoscopy: During this surgery doctors use a tool called a laparoscope to see inside the\u00a0abdomen<\/a>. The doctor makes a small cut in the lower abdomen and inserts the laparoscope. Using the laparoscope, doctors check the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus for disease and physical problems. Doctors can usually find scarring and endometriosis by laparoscopy.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
10. How do doctors treat infertility?<\/a><\/h5>Infertility can be treated with medicine, surgery, artificial insemination, or assisted reproductive technology. Many times these treatments are combined. About two-thirds of couples who are treated for infertility are able to have a baby. In most cases infertility is treated with drugs or surgery.<\/p>\nDoctors recommend specific\u00a0treatments for infertility<\/a>\u00a0based on:<\/p>\n\n- Test results<\/li>\n
- How long the couple has been trying to get pregnant<\/li>\n
- The age of both the man and woman<\/li>\n
- The overall health of the partners<\/li>\n
- Preference of the partners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Doctors often treat infertility in men in the following ways:<\/p>\n
\n- Sexual problems: If the man is impotent or has problems with\u00a0premature ejaculation<\/a>, doctors can help him address these issues. Behavioral therapy and\/or medicines can be used in these cases.<\/li>\n
- Too few sperm: If the man produces too few sperm, sometimes surgery can correct this problem. In other cases, doctors can surgically remove sperm from the male reproductive tract.\u00a0Antibiotics<\/a>\u00a0can also be used to clear up infections affecting\u00a0sperm count<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Various fertility medicines are often used to treat women with ovulation problems. It is important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of these medicines. You should understand the risks, benefits, and side effects.<\/p>\n
Doctors also use surgery to treat some causes of infertility. Problems with a woman’s ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus can sometimes be corrected with surgery.<\/p>\n
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is another type of treatment for infertility.IUI is known by most people as artificial insemination. In this procedure, the woman is injected with specially prepared sperm. Sometimes the woman is also treated with medicines that stimulate ovulation before IUI.<\/p>\n
IUI is often used to treat:<\/p>\n
\n- Mild male factor infertility<\/li>\n
- Women who have problems with their cervical mucus<\/li>\n
- Couples with unexplained infertility<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
11. What medicines are used to treat infertility in women?<\/a><\/h5>Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include:<\/p>\n\n- Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG (IVF-M): This medicine is often used for women who don’t ovulate due to problems with their pituitary gland. hMG acts directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. It is an injected medicine.<\/li>\n
- Follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH (IVF-M\/Follitrop): FSH works much like hMG. It causes the ovaries to begin the process of ovulation. These medicines are usually injected.<\/li>\n
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (IVF-C) analog: These medicines are often used for women who don’t ovulate regularly each month. Women who ovulate before the egg is ready can also use these medicines. Gn-RH analogs act on the pituitary gland to change when the body ovulates. These medicines are usually injected or given with a nasal spray.<\/li>\n
- Metformin<\/a>\u00a0(Glucophage<\/a>): Doctors use this medicine for women who have\u00a0insulin resistance<\/a>\u00a0and\/or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This drug helps lower the high levels of male hormones in women with these conditions. This helps the body to ovulate. Sometimes clomiphene citrate or FSH is combined with metformin. This medicine is usually taken by\u00a0mouth<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Many fertility drugs increase a woman’s chance of having twins, triplets, or other multiples. Women who are pregnant with multiple fetuses have more problems during pregnancy. Multiple fetuses have a high risk of being born too early (prematurely). Premature babies are at a higher risk of health and developmental problems.<\/div><\/div>
12. What is assisted reproductive technology (ART)?<\/a><\/h5>Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a term that describes several different methods used to help infertile couples. ART involves removing eggs from a woman’s body, mixing them with sperm in the laboratory, and putting the embryos back into a woman’s body.<\/p>\nHow often is assisted reproductive technology (ART) successful?<\/strong><\/p>\nSuccess rates vary and depend on many factors. Some things that affect the success rate of ART include:<\/p>\n
\n- Age of the partners<\/li>\n
- Reason for infertility<\/li>\n
- Fertility clinic<\/li>\n
- Type of ART<\/li>\n
- If the egg is fresh or frozen<\/li>\n
- If the embryo is fresh or frozen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The CDC collects success rates on ART for some fertility clinics. According to the 2003 CDC report on ART, the average percentage of ART cycles that led to a healthy baby were as follows:<\/p>\n
\n- 37.3% in women under the age of 35<\/li>\n
- 30.2% in women aged 35-37<\/li>\n
- 20.2% in women aged 37-40<\/li>\n
- 11.0% in women aged 41-42<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
ART can be expensive and time-consuming. But it has allowed many couples to have children that otherwise would not have been conceived. The most common complication of ART is multiple fetuses. But this is a problem that can be prevented or minimized in several different ways.<\/div><\/div>
13. What are the different types of assisted reproductive technology (ART)?<\/a><\/h5>Common methods of ART include:<\/p>\n\n- In vitro fertilization<\/a>\u00a0(IVF) means fertilization outside of the body. IVF is the most effective ART. It is often used when a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked or when a man produces too few sperm. Doctors treat the woman with a drug that causes the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Once mature, the eggs are removed from the woman. They are put in a dish in the lab along with the man’s sperm for fertilization. After 3 to 5 days, healthy embryos are implanted in the woman’s uterus.<\/li>\n
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is often used for couples in which there are serious problems with the sperm. Sometimes it is also used for older couples or for those with failed IVF attempts. In ICSI, a single sperm is injected into a mature egg. Then the embryo is transferred to the uterus or fallopian tube.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
14. What is elective single-embryo transfer (eSET)?<\/a><\/h5>Patients who choose eSET will have only one embryo placed into the uterus rather than two or more. The procedure is performed during the Day 3 multicell embryo stage or during the Day 5\/6 blastocyst stage. To perform eSET, the embryologist will grade each available embryo according to its overall appearance, number of cells and quality. The highest quality embryo is selected and placed into the uterus in the hopes of achieving a pregnancy.<\/div><\/div>15. Why choose elective single-embryo transfer (eSET)?<\/a><\/h5>The primary reason to select eSET is to reduce the risk of multiple births. A good percentage of IVF pregnancies result in twins, with another three to four percent result in triplets. Multiple pregnancies can not only be unexpected for parents, but they also increase the risk of complications for the fetus and the mother.<\/div><\/div>16. Is eSet right for me?<\/a><\/h5>
1. What is infertility?<\/a><\/h5>Most experts define\u00a0infertility<\/a>\u00a0as not being able to\u00a0get pregnant<\/a> after at least one year of trying. Women who are able to\u00a0get pregnant<\/a>\u00a0but then have repeat\u00a0miscarriages<\/a>\u00a0are also said to be infertile.<\/p>\nPregnancy<\/a>\u00a0is the result of a complex chain of events. In order to\u00a0get pregnant<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n- A woman must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation<\/a>).<\/li>\n
- The egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the uterus (womb).<\/li>\n
- A man’s\u00a0sperm<\/a>\u00a0must join with (fertilize) the egg along the way.<\/li>\n
- The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Infertility<\/a>\u00a0can result from problems that interfere with any of these steps.<\/p><\/div><\/div>2. Is infertility just a woman's problem?<\/a><\/h5>No, infertility is not always a woman’s problem. In about one-third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factors). In another third of cases, infertility is due to the man (male factors). The remaining cases are caused by a mixture of male and female factors or by unknown factors.<\/p><\/div><\/div>
3. What causes infertility in men?<\/a><\/h5>Infertility in men is most often caused by:<\/p>\n\n- Problems making sperm — producing too few sperm or none at all<\/li>\n
- Problems with the sperm’s ability to reach the egg and fertilize it — abnormal sperm shape or structure prevent it from moving correctly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sometimes a man is born with the problems that affect his sperm. Other times problems start later in life due to illness or injury. For example,\u00a0cystic fibrosis<\/a>\u00a0often causes infertility in men.<\/div><\/div>4. What increases a man's risk of infertility?<\/a><\/h5>The number and quality of a man’s sperm can be affected by his overall health and lifestyle. Some things that may reduce sperm number and\/or quality include:<\/p>\n\n- Alcohol<\/li>\n
- Drugs<\/li>\n
- Environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead<\/li>\n
- Smoking<\/a>\u00a0cigarettes<\/li>\n
- Health problems<\/li>\n
- Medicines<\/li>\n
- Radiation<\/a>\u00a0treatment and\u00a0chemotherapy<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0cancer<\/a><\/li>\n
- Age<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
5. What causes infertility in women?<\/a><\/h5>Problems with\u00a0ovulation<\/a>\u00a0account for most cases of infertility in women. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.<\/p>\nLess common causes of fertility problems in women include:<\/p>\n
\n- Blocked fallopian tubes due to\u00a0pelvic inflammatory disease<\/a>,\u00a0endometriosis<\/a>, or surgery for an\u00a0ectopic pregnancy<\/a><\/li>\n
- Physical problems with the uterus<\/li>\n
- Uterine fibroids<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
6. What things increase a woman's risk of infertility?<\/a><\/h5>Many things can affect a woman’s ability to have a baby. These include:<\/p>\n\n- Age<\/li>\n
- Stress<\/li>\n
- Poor diet<\/li>\n
- Athletic training<\/li>\n
- Being\u00a0overweight<\/a>\u00a0or underweight<\/li>\n
- Tobacco<\/a>\u00a0smoking<\/a><\/li>\n
- Alcohol<\/li>\n
- Sexually transmitted diseases<\/a>\u00a0(STDs<\/a>)<\/li>\n
- Health problems that cause hormonal changes<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
7. How does age affect a woman's ability to have children?<\/a><\/h5>More and more women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children. Actually, about 20% of women in the United States now have their first child after age 35. So age is an increasingly common cause of fertility problems. About one-third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems.<\/p>\n
Aging decreases a woman’s chances of\u00a0having a baby<\/a>\u00a0in the following ways:<\/p>\n\n- The ability of a woman’s ovaries to release eggs ready for fertilization declines with age.<\/li>\n
- The health of a woman’s eggs declines with age.<\/li>\n
- As a woman ages she is more likely to have health problems that can interfere with fertility.<\/li>\n
- As a women ages, her risk of having a miscarriage increases.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>
8. How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors?<\/a><\/h5>Most\u00a0healthy women<\/a>\u00a0under the age of 30 shouldn’t worry about infertility unless they’ve been trying to get pregnant for at least a year. At this point, women should talk to their doctors about a fertility evaluation. Men should also talk to their doctors if this much time has passed.<\/p>\nIn some cases, women should talk to their doctors sooner. Women in their 30s who’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months should speak to their doctors as soon as possible. A woman’s chances of\u00a0having a baby<\/a> decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30. So getting a complete and timely fertility evaluation is especially important.<\/p>\nSome health issues also increase the risk of fertility problems. So women with the following issues should speak to their doctors as soon as possible:<\/p>\n
\n- Irregular periods<\/a>\u00a0or no menstrual periods<\/li>\n
- Very painful periods<\/li>\n
- Endometriosis<\/a><\/li>\n
- Pelvic inflammatory disease<\/li>\n
- More than one miscarriage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
No matter how old you are, it’s always a good idea to talk to a doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Doctors can help you prepare your body for a\u00a0healthy baby<\/a>. They can also answer questions on fertility and give tips on conceiving.<\/div><\/div>9. How will doctors find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems?<\/a><\/h5>Sometimes doctors can find the cause of a couple’s infertility by doing a complete fertility evaluation. This process usually begins with physical exams and health and sexual histories. If there are no obvious problems, like poorly timed intercourse or absence of ovulation, tests will be needed.<\/p>\n
Finding the\u00a0cause of infertility<\/a>\u00a0is often a long, complex, and emotional process. It can take months for you and your doctor to complete all the needed exams and tests. So don’t be alarmed if the problem is not found right away.<\/p>\nFor a man, doctors usually begin by testing his semen. They look at the number, shape, and movement of the sperm. Sometimes doctors also suggest testing the level of a man’s hormones.<\/p>\n
For a woman, the first step in testing is to find out if she is ovulating each month. There are several ways to do this. A woman can track her ovulation at home by:<\/p>\n
\n- Recording changes in her morning\u00a0body temperature<\/a>\u00a0(basal body temperature) for several months<\/li>\n
- Recording the texture of her cervical mucus for several months<\/li>\n
- Using a home ovulation test kit (available at drug or grocery stores)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Doctors can also check if a woman is ovulating by doing\u00a0blood<\/a>\u00a0tests and an\u00a0ultrasound<\/a>\u00a0of the ovaries. If the woman is ovulating normally, more tests are needed.<\/p>\nSome common tests of fertility in women include:<\/p>\n
\n- Hysterosalpingography: In this test, doctors use X-rays to check for physical problems of the uterus and fallopian tubes. They start by injecting a special dye through the\u00a0vagina<\/a>\u00a0into the uterus. This dye shows up on the X-ray. This allows the doctor to see if the dye moves normally through the uterus into the fallopian tubes. With these X-rays doctors can find blockages that may be causing infertility. Blockages can prevent the egg from moving from the fallopian tube to the uterus. Blockages can also keep the sperm from reaching the egg.<\/li>\n
- Laparoscopy: During this surgery doctors use a tool called a laparoscope to see inside the\u00a0abdomen<\/a>. The doctor makes a small cut in the lower abdomen and inserts the laparoscope. Using the laparoscope, doctors check the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus for disease and physical problems. Doctors can usually find scarring and endometriosis by laparoscopy.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
10. How do doctors treat infertility?<\/a><\/h5>Infertility can be treated with medicine, surgery, artificial insemination, or assisted reproductive technology. Many times these treatments are combined. About two-thirds of couples who are treated for infertility are able to have a baby. In most cases infertility is treated with drugs or surgery.<\/p>\nDoctors recommend specific\u00a0treatments for infertility<\/a>\u00a0based on:<\/p>\n\n- Test results<\/li>\n
- How long the couple has been trying to get pregnant<\/li>\n
- The age of both the man and woman<\/li>\n
- The overall health of the partners<\/li>\n
- Preference of the partners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Doctors often treat infertility in men in the following ways:<\/p>\n
\n- Sexual problems: If the man is impotent or has problems with\u00a0premature ejaculation<\/a>, doctors can help him address these issues. Behavioral therapy and\/or medicines can be used in these cases.<\/li>\n
- Too few sperm: If the man produces too few sperm, sometimes surgery can correct this problem. In other cases, doctors can surgically remove sperm from the male reproductive tract.\u00a0Antibiotics<\/a>\u00a0can also be used to clear up infections affecting\u00a0sperm count<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Various fertility medicines are often used to treat women with ovulation problems. It is important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of these medicines. You should understand the risks, benefits, and side effects.<\/p>\n
Doctors also use surgery to treat some causes of infertility. Problems with a woman’s ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus can sometimes be corrected with surgery.<\/p>\n
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is another type of treatment for infertility.IUI is known by most people as artificial insemination. In this procedure, the woman is injected with specially prepared sperm. Sometimes the woman is also treated with medicines that stimulate ovulation before IUI.<\/p>\n
IUI is often used to treat:<\/p>\n
\n- Mild male factor infertility<\/li>\n
- Women who have problems with their cervical mucus<\/li>\n
- Couples with unexplained infertility<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
11. What medicines are used to treat infertility in women?<\/a><\/h5>Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include:<\/p>\n\n- Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG (IVF-M): This medicine is often used for women who don’t ovulate due to problems with their pituitary gland. hMG acts directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. It is an injected medicine.<\/li>\n
- Follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH (IVF-M\/Follitrop): FSH works much like hMG. It causes the ovaries to begin the process of ovulation. These medicines are usually injected.<\/li>\n
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (IVF-C) analog: These medicines are often used for women who don’t ovulate regularly each month. Women who ovulate before the egg is ready can also use these medicines. Gn-RH analogs act on the pituitary gland to change when the body ovulates. These medicines are usually injected or given with a nasal spray.<\/li>\n
- Metformin<\/a>\u00a0(Glucophage<\/a>): Doctors use this medicine for women who have\u00a0insulin resistance<\/a>\u00a0and\/or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This drug helps lower the high levels of male hormones in women with these conditions. This helps the body to ovulate. Sometimes clomiphene citrate or FSH is combined with metformin. This medicine is usually taken by\u00a0mouth<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Many fertility drugs increase a woman’s chance of having twins, triplets, or other multiples. Women who are pregnant with multiple fetuses have more problems during pregnancy. Multiple fetuses have a high risk of being born too early (prematurely). Premature babies are at a higher risk of health and developmental problems.<\/div><\/div>
12. What is assisted reproductive technology (ART)?<\/a><\/h5>Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a term that describes several different methods used to help infertile couples. ART involves removing eggs from a woman’s body, mixing them with sperm in the laboratory, and putting the embryos back into a woman’s body.<\/p>\nHow often is assisted reproductive technology (ART) successful?<\/strong><\/p>\nSuccess rates vary and depend on many factors. Some things that affect the success rate of ART include:<\/p>\n
\n- Age of the partners<\/li>\n
- Reason for infertility<\/li>\n
- Fertility clinic<\/li>\n
- Type of ART<\/li>\n
- If the egg is fresh or frozen<\/li>\n
- If the embryo is fresh or frozen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The CDC collects success rates on ART for some fertility clinics. According to the 2003 CDC report on ART, the average percentage of ART cycles that led to a healthy baby were as follows:<\/p>\n
\n- 37.3% in women under the age of 35<\/li>\n
- 30.2% in women aged 35-37<\/li>\n
- 20.2% in women aged 37-40<\/li>\n
- 11.0% in women aged 41-42<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
ART can be expensive and time-consuming. But it has allowed many couples to have children that otherwise would not have been conceived. The most common complication of ART is multiple fetuses. But this is a problem that can be prevented or minimized in several different ways.<\/div><\/div>
13. What are the different types of assisted reproductive technology (ART)?<\/a><\/h5>Common methods of ART include:<\/p>\n\n- In vitro fertilization<\/a>\u00a0(IVF) means fertilization outside of the body. IVF is the most effective ART. It is often used when a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked or when a man produces too few sperm. Doctors treat the woman with a drug that causes the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Once mature, the eggs are removed from the woman. They are put in a dish in the lab along with the man’s sperm for fertilization. After 3 to 5 days, healthy embryos are implanted in the woman’s uterus.<\/li>\n
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is often used for couples in which there are serious problems with the sperm. Sometimes it is also used for older couples or for those with failed IVF attempts. In ICSI, a single sperm is injected into a mature egg. Then the embryo is transferred to the uterus or fallopian tube.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>
14. What is elective single-embryo transfer (eSET)?<\/a><\/h5>Patients who choose eSET will have only one embryo placed into the uterus rather than two or more. The procedure is performed during the Day 3 multicell embryo stage or during the Day 5\/6 blastocyst stage. To perform eSET, the embryologist will grade each available embryo according to its overall appearance, number of cells and quality. The highest quality embryo is selected and placed into the uterus in the hopes of achieving a pregnancy.<\/div><\/div>15. Why choose elective single-embryo transfer (eSET)?<\/a><\/h5>The primary reason to select eSET is to reduce the risk of multiple births. A good percentage of IVF pregnancies result in twins, with another three to four percent result in triplets. Multiple pregnancies can not only be unexpected for parents, but they also increase the risk of complications for the fetus and the mother.<\/div><\/div>16. Is eSet right for me?<\/a><\/h5>
Most experts define\u00a0infertility<\/a>\u00a0as not being able to\u00a0get pregnant<\/a> after at least one year of trying. Women who are able to\u00a0get pregnant<\/a>\u00a0but then have repeat\u00a0miscarriages<\/a>\u00a0are also said to be infertile.<\/p>\n Pregnancy<\/a>\u00a0is the result of a complex chain of events. In order to\u00a0get pregnant<\/a>:<\/p>\n Infertility<\/a>\u00a0can result from problems that interfere with any of these steps.<\/p><\/div><\/div> No, infertility is not always a woman’s problem. In about one-third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factors). In another third of cases, infertility is due to the man (male factors). The remaining cases are caused by a mixture of male and female factors or by unknown factors.<\/p><\/div><\/div> Sometimes a man is born with the problems that affect his sperm. Other times problems start later in life due to illness or injury. For example,\u00a0cystic fibrosis<\/a>\u00a0often causes infertility in men.<\/div><\/div> Problems with\u00a0ovulation<\/a>\u00a0account for most cases of infertility in women. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.<\/p>\n Less common causes of fertility problems in women include:<\/p>\n More and more women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children. Actually, about 20% of women in the United States now have their first child after age 35. So age is an increasingly common cause of fertility problems. About one-third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems.<\/p>\n Aging decreases a woman’s chances of\u00a0having a baby<\/a>\u00a0in the following ways:<\/p>\n Most\u00a0healthy women<\/a>\u00a0under the age of 30 shouldn’t worry about infertility unless they’ve been trying to get pregnant for at least a year. At this point, women should talk to their doctors about a fertility evaluation. Men should also talk to their doctors if this much time has passed.<\/p>\n In some cases, women should talk to their doctors sooner. Women in their 30s who’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months should speak to their doctors as soon as possible. A woman’s chances of\u00a0having a baby<\/a> decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30. So getting a complete and timely fertility evaluation is especially important.<\/p>\n Some health issues also increase the risk of fertility problems. So women with the following issues should speak to their doctors as soon as possible:<\/p>\n No matter how old you are, it’s always a good idea to talk to a doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Doctors can help you prepare your body for a\u00a0healthy baby<\/a>. They can also answer questions on fertility and give tips on conceiving.<\/div><\/div> Sometimes doctors can find the cause of a couple’s infertility by doing a complete fertility evaluation. This process usually begins with physical exams and health and sexual histories. If there are no obvious problems, like poorly timed intercourse or absence of ovulation, tests will be needed.<\/p>\n Finding the\u00a0cause of infertility<\/a>\u00a0is often a long, complex, and emotional process. It can take months for you and your doctor to complete all the needed exams and tests. So don’t be alarmed if the problem is not found right away.<\/p>\n For a man, doctors usually begin by testing his semen. They look at the number, shape, and movement of the sperm. Sometimes doctors also suggest testing the level of a man’s hormones.<\/p>\n For a woman, the first step in testing is to find out if she is ovulating each month. There are several ways to do this. A woman can track her ovulation at home by:<\/p>\n Doctors can also check if a woman is ovulating by doing\u00a0blood<\/a>\u00a0tests and an\u00a0ultrasound<\/a>\u00a0of the ovaries. If the woman is ovulating normally, more tests are needed.<\/p>\n Some common tests of fertility in women include:<\/p>\n Doctors recommend specific\u00a0treatments for infertility<\/a>\u00a0based on:<\/p>\n Doctors often treat infertility in men in the following ways:<\/p>\n Various fertility medicines are often used to treat women with ovulation problems. It is important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of these medicines. You should understand the risks, benefits, and side effects.<\/p>\n Doctors also use surgery to treat some causes of infertility. Problems with a woman’s ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus can sometimes be corrected with surgery.<\/p>\n Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is another type of treatment for infertility.IUI is known by most people as artificial insemination. In this procedure, the woman is injected with specially prepared sperm. Sometimes the woman is also treated with medicines that stimulate ovulation before IUI.<\/p>\n IUI is often used to treat:<\/p>\n Many fertility drugs increase a woman’s chance of having twins, triplets, or other multiples. Women who are pregnant with multiple fetuses have more problems during pregnancy. Multiple fetuses have a high risk of being born too early (prematurely). Premature babies are at a higher risk of health and developmental problems.<\/div><\/div> How often is assisted reproductive technology (ART) successful?<\/strong><\/p>\n Success rates vary and depend on many factors. Some things that affect the success rate of ART include:<\/p>\n The CDC collects success rates on ART for some fertility clinics. According to the 2003 CDC report on ART, the average percentage of ART cycles that led to a healthy baby were as follows:<\/p>\n ART can be expensive and time-consuming. But it has allowed many couples to have children that otherwise would not have been conceived. The most common complication of ART is multiple fetuses. But this is a problem that can be prevented or minimized in several different ways.<\/div><\/div>\n
2. Is infertility just a woman's problem?<\/a><\/h5>
3. What causes infertility in men?<\/a><\/h5>
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4. What increases a man's risk of infertility?<\/a><\/h5>
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5. What causes infertility in women?<\/a><\/h5>
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6. What things increase a woman's risk of infertility?<\/a><\/h5>
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7. How does age affect a woman's ability to have children?<\/a><\/h5>
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8. How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors?<\/a><\/h5>
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9. How will doctors find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems?<\/a><\/h5>
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10. How do doctors treat infertility?<\/a><\/h5>
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11. What medicines are used to treat infertility in women?<\/a><\/h5>
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12. What is assisted reproductive technology (ART)?<\/a><\/h5>
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13. What are the different types of assisted reproductive technology (ART)?<\/a><\/h5>
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14. What is elective single-embryo transfer (eSET)?<\/a><\/h5>
15. Why choose elective single-embryo transfer (eSET)?<\/a><\/h5>
16. Is eSet right for me?<\/a><\/h5>