5 Things to Know About Infertility

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What to know about infertility

When you are ready to have a baby, it can be incredibly emotional when it doesn’t happen as quickly as you hoped. After several months, you may start to worry about infertility. Here are 5 quick facts about infertility that you should know.

1. Infertility is diagnosed after 1 year of unsuccessfully trying to conceive

Usually, your OB-GYN will refer you to a fertility specialist (usually a reproductive endocrinologist) after trying for a year without getting pregnant. However, women over age 35 may receive a referral to a fertility specialist sooner, generally after 6 months of unsuccessfully trying to conceive. Infertility may also be diagnosed in couples who are able to get pregnant but unable to stay pregnant (multiple miscarriage). If you are experiencing any of the above scenarios, ask your OB-GYN for a referral to a fertility specialist. If you have a known condition that can affect fertility, consider seeking a fertility specialist sooner.

2. It affects 10-15% of couples

Infertility, unfortunately, is not uncommon. Studies have shown that around 10-15% of couples experience infertility. Specifically, studies have shown that 12-15% of couples are unable to conceive within 1 year, and 10% of couples have still not had a baby after 2 years.

3. There are various causes.

In general, infertility is caused by a medical issue with the female partner about 1/3 of the time and an issue with the male partner about 1/3 of the time. In the remaining 1/3 of couples experiencing infertility, it is either due to a combination of both female and male factors, or there is no identifiable cause to explain why the couple is unable to conceive.

  • Female Factors: The most common cause of infertility in women is an ovulation disorder, such as polycystic ovarians syndrome (PCOS). Female infertility may also be due to blocked Fallopian tubes, uterine fibroids, or problems with the structure of the uterus.
  • Male Factors: In men, infertility may be due to medical issues causing azoospermia (lack of sperm cell production) or oligospermia (not enough sperm cell production). It can also be due to issues that affect the shape or movement of the sperm.

4. Certain factors can increase the risk.

These factors affect both female and male fertility:

  • Age: Women experience declined fertility with increasing age (especially after age 35). While age plays less of a role in male fertility, men over age 40 are also more likely to report difficulty conceiving.
  • Weight: Being overweight or underweight can affect a woman’s fertility. An estimated 12% of female infertility cases are weight-related. In men, being overweight or obese can also increase the risk of infertility.
  • Smoking: Smoking is another factor that can affect female and male fertility. In fact, cigarette smoking is thought to contribute to about 13% of female infertility cases.
  • Alcohol use: Heavy alcohol use (more than 2 drinks per day) can also affect both female and male fertility.

Fortunately, most of these factors (excluding age of course) are changeable. If you are having trouble getting pregnant, it may be helpful to get to a healthy weight, quit smoking, and cut back on alcohol consumption. This won’t work for everyone, but it’s a good place to start.

5. Infertility is treatable.

An infertility diagnosis can be devastating, but the upside is that it is treatable! Treatment options include medication, surgery to repair reproductive organs (if a structural issue exists), artificial insemination (also known as intrauterine insemination or IUI), or assisted reproductive technology (ART). The most commonly used method of ART is in vitro fertilization (IVF).  Most cases of infertility, approximately 85-90%, are treatable with medication or surgery only.

If you’re concerned about infertility, talk to your OBGYN and ask about a referral to a fertility specialist. The good news is that there are many great fertility centers in the DC Metro area! I personally had a great experience with Shady Grove Fertility. For those of you who have gone through infertility treatment in the DC area, do you have any specific doctor or center that you would recommend?