Reproductive challenges can be caused by a variety of barriers for both men and women. Reproductive endocrinologists can help with understanding the cause of infertility, an important first step on your journey to parenthood. Here our experts share the three common causes of infertility and how fertility treatments can help.
- Age and egg quality. Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and as time goes on, those eggs age as well. Generally, egg quality begins to decrease over the age of 30, and begins to sharply decline after age 35. With many families delaying having children, age and egg quality directly impact their ability to have a successful pregnancy. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t still build the family you want after age 35!
Fortunately, there are various fertility tests that can help you determine your egg quantity and quality, like an AMH (anti mullerian hormone) blood test and AFC (antra-follicle count) ultrasound. The AMH level will provide a number reflecting egg quality, while the ultrasound shows your baseline egg follicle count. When it comes to treatment, assisted reproductive treatment options like an IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilization) can help boost pregnancy rates. IVF in particular helps specialists find the highest quality eggs, and even genetically test embryos using PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) prior to implantation to ensure they don’t have a chromosome abnormality. By utilizing the latest technology, women in their 30s and 40s can achieve their pregnancy and childbearing goals. - Male factor infertility. Men play just as an important role as women when it comes to getting pregnant. Sperm abnormalities account for an estimated one-third of all cases of infertility, with issues ranging from low sperm count to abnormal sperm shape, to lack of motility (movement). While urologists can help men with certain sperm issues, IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is often the best way to overcome male factor infertility. ICSI allows skilled embryologists to pick the best sperm, and manually inject it into the egg, increasing chances of fertilization.
- Underlying reproductive health conditions. There are many other conditions that women experience that can factor into their ability to get pregnant. The most common include PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, and recurrent pregnancy loss. Being properly diagnosed is a crucial step in finding a successful treatment plan. Many women ignore their symptoms or are not taken seriously by their doctor initially. Rest assured that our team of specialists will listen to your needs and help guide you every step of the way!
PCOS and endometriosis in particular are often misdiagnosed, often taking women several years to receive an accurate diagnosis. There are minimally invasive surgical options available to remove fibroids and help symptoms of endometriosis. IUI or IVF are helpful treatments for women suffering from PCOS by helping them ovulate or bypassing natural ovulation altogether. Early pregnancy monitoring and IVF with PGT can help women experiencing pregnancy losses.
No matter what the reason, we are here to help empower you with solutions to build your family. To learn more about your fertility testing and treatment options, contact us today.