Infertility

What is infertility?

Infertility refers to the inability to conceive a child or carry a pregnancy to full term after having regular unprotected sexual intercourse for at least a year. It can be caused by issues in either the male or female reproductive system.

Some key facts about infertility:

• Approximately 10-15% of couples in the United States experience infertility. This amounts to about 6 million women and their partners.


• For about one-third of these couples, the cause is primarily female factor infertility. Another one-third face male factor infertility or a combination of both male and female factors.


• Both men and women can undergo exams and testing to diagnose the underlying cause. Common causes include:
  
  
  • Hormonal imbalances
  
  
  • Problems with the uterus or fallopian tubes
  
  
  • Issues with ovulation
  
  
  • Sperm health concerns like low count or poor motility
  
  
  • Structural blockages or damage from illness, surgery, etc.
  
  

Infertility treatment options depend on the specific cause and factors like the couple's age. Some options are:

• Timed intercourse


• Ovulation-boosting medications


• Artificial insemination


• Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like IVF


• Surgery to repair reproductive structures

At Vitality Wellness Clinic, our caring fertility specialists develop customized treatment plans for hopeful couples based on their medical histories and test results. We offer both basic and advanced ART procedures with excellent success rates. Unlike large, impersonal clinics - we provide individualized care centered around YOU.

Some key questions about infertility:

What causes infertility in women?

Common female-related causes include ovulation disorders like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), uterine or fallopian tube damage, endometriosis, and age-related egg quality decline.

What causes male infertility?

Up to 90% of male infertility cases are due to low sperm counts, poor sperm motility/function, or abnormal sperm shape/size. These are often linked to varicoceles, infections, hormone imbalances, or unexplained DNA damage.

What tests diagnose the cause?

After a medical history and physical exam, standard tests include bloodwork, ultrasounds, semen analysis, an hysterosalpingogram, and specialized hormone level tests. Further imaging or exploratory laparoscopy may be needed.

What are the first treatments attempted?

Initial treatment options tend to focus on optimizing ovulation, sperm health, and timed intercourse. Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) can aid timing. First-line fertility medications or surgical repair may also be tried before considering IVF or other ART.

What ART procedures may be used?

If initial options are ineffective, couples may progress to IUI or IVF. This involves hormonally controlling the reproductive cycle, egg retrieval, fertilization & embryo culture in a lab, and embryo transfer into the uterus. Additional technologies like PGT-A, ICSI, or donor gametes may be incorporated.