INFERTILITY

WHAT IS INFERTILITY?
 Infertility is usually defined as the inability to get
pregnant after a year of unprotected sex.
 According to statistics collected by the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), 6.1 million women between the
ages of 15 to 44 have an impaired ability to have
children, and 2.1 million married couples are
experiencing infertility.
 The statistical study also found that 9.2 million women
had made use of infertility services at some time in their
life.
WHEN IS A DIAGNOSIS OF
INFERTILITY GIVEN?
 A diagnosis of infertility is usually given when a couple,
after a year of trying to conceive, does not become
pregnant.
 Another kind of infertility is secondary infertility.
Secondary infertility is diagnosed when a couple who
has successfully carried to term a pregnancy previously,
but now, when trying again, is not able to get pregnant
after a year of trying.
 Also, a couple who suffers from recurrent miscarriages
(usually after three successive losses) is also given a
diagnosis of infertility.
IS THE YEAR WAIT NECESSARY FOR
AN INFERTILITY DIAGNOSIS?
 “Try for a year, and afterwards, come back if you’re not pregnant,” is the
most common answer given to couples who are trying to conceive,
especially those under the age of 35. But a year is a long time to wait. Do
you have to try for a year before seeking help?
 Look for risk factors or red flags

There is no reason to wait an entire year if there are warning signs,

symptoms, or past health problems.
 Consider charting

Another way to speed up diagnosis is to consider charting your cycles.

Charting your cycles involves, at the most basic level, recording your
morning temperature, and watching for specific patterns within your
cycle.
 If you're 35 or older, don't wait more than six months

Because your fertility naturally decreases as you age (starting at the age
of 25 for men, and at age 30 in women), time is of the essence once you
pass age 35
WHAT CAUSES INFERTILITY?
Two of the most common causes of female factor infertility include:
 Ovulatory Disorders – accounting for 18% to 30% of infertility in
women.
 Anatomical Disorders – like blocked fallopian tubes, often the
result of infections or inflammations, like endometriosis or pelvic
inflammatory disease.

The two most common causes of male factor infertility include:

 Low Sperm Production: Medically referred to as azoospermia
(complete lack of sperm cells) or oligospermia (few sperm cell are
produced), this is the most common cause of male factor infertility.
 Sperm Malformations: Even if the amount of sperm is within the
normal range, malformed sperm, as well as the ability of the sperm
to make it to the egg before dying, can be a cause of infertility.
TREATMENT
 Whatever the cause is for your infertility, you should know
there is reason for hope. According to the American Society of
Reproductive Medicine, 85% to 90% of infertility cases can be
treated using conventional treatments, like medication or
surgical repair. Less than 3% of infertility patients require
advanced treatments, like in vitro fertilization.
 Your infertility treatment plan will depend on the cause or
causes behind your infertility. Infertility treatment also depends
on whether the problem is from the woman’s side, the man’s
side, both sides, or remains unexplained.
 The good news is that 85% to 90% of couples dealing with
infertility are treated with low-tech treatments, like medication
or surgery, with less than 3% being treated by Assisted
Reproductive Technologies, like IVF.
TREATMENT
 Fertility Drugs
 Surgical Treatments

 IUI - Intrauterine Insemination

 Assisted Reproductive Technologies

 IVF (in vitro fertilization)

 GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer)

 ZIFT (zygote intrafallopian transfer)

THANK YOU