Frequently Asked Questions

This page is intended to provide some basic information and general overview of infertility in as simple terms as possible. It is not intended as medical advice. The accuracy of the information is not guaranteed and the authors are not responsible for how readers use this information.

• What is infertility?
• Is fertility a woman's problem?
• What increases the risk of infertility?
• What are the most common tests for infertility?
• What is the treatment for infertility?

Infertility is commonly defined as not being able to get pregnant after at least one year of trying.  Couples that have repeat miscarriages are also said to be infertile.  A complex chain of events must occur for a successful pregnancy to occur:

• A woman must release an egg from her ovaries, this is called ovulation.
• The egg must travel through the fallopian tube toward the uterus.
• A man's sperm must meet with the egg and fertilize it.
• The fertilized egg must implant itself to the inside of the uterus.

Interference with any of these steps can result problems getting pregnant.

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According to the National Women's Health Information Center about 1/3 of infertility cases are due to female factors. In another 1/3 of the cases it is due to the male factor, the remaining cases are caused by a mixure of male and female factors and unknown factors. Common causes of infertility in women are ovulation dysfunction, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Common causes of infertility in men are problems making sperm, sperm's ability to reach the egg and fertilize it.

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In both women and men infertility can be affected by overall health and lifestyles.  Most common things that reduce the chance of becoming PARINTS include:  alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, age, stress, poor diet, being overweight or underweight, STDs, athletic training and environmental toxins (pesticides and lead).

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A full fertility evaluation must be done on the couple to get a better picture of what might be going on.  This evaluation consists of physical exams and history.  If poorly timed intercourse or absence of ovulation is not obvious, other tests might be needed. These tests might include a HSG or hysterosalpingography. An x-ray checks for physical problems with the uterus and fallopian tubes. The doctor will inject a dye that shows up on x-ray to identify any blockages that might be preventing the egg from moving to the uterus or keep the sperm from reaching the egg. Laparoscopy is a surgery to see inside the abdomen with a laparoscope. The doctor will make a small cut in the lower abdomen to evaulate the tubes, ovaries, uterus, look for disease and physcial problems such as scarring and endometriosis. Semen analysis will look at the number, shape and movement of the sperm.

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Treatment can be a combination of medicine, surgery and intrauterine insemination. Specific treaments for infertility are based on test results, history, age and overall health.  Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a procedure where specially prepared sperm is placed inside the woman's uterus.  IUI is used due to mild male factors, women with cervical mucus factors or unexplained infertility.

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