What makes infertility

Pelvic surgery can damage and scar the fallopian tubes, which link the ovaries to the womb. Cervical surgery can also sometimes cause scarring or shorten the neck of the womb the cervix. When you're ovulating, mucus in your cervix becomes thinner so sperm can swim through it more easily. If there's a problem with the mucus, it can make it harder to conceive.

Non-cancerous growths called fibroids in or around the womb can affect fertility. In some cases, they may prevent a fertilised egg attaching itself in the womb, or they may block a fallopian tube. Endometriosis is a condition where small pieces of the womb lining the endometrium start growing in other places, such as the ovaries.

This can damage the ovaries or fallopian tubes and cause fertility problems. Pelvic inflammatory disease PID is an infection of the upper female genital tract, which includes the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. It's often caused by a sexually transmitted infection STI. PID can damage and scar the fallopian tubes, making it virtually impossible for an egg to travel down into the womb.

Some women choose to be sterilised if they do not want to have any more children. Sterilisation involves blocking the fallopian tubes to make it impossible for an egg to travel to the womb. It's rarely reversible — if you do have a sterilisation reversed, you will not necessarily be able to have a child. More information about infections that may affect fertility can be found on the sexually transmitted infections STIs health topic page.

Chronic infections in the cervix and surgical treatment of cervical lesions associated with human papillomavirus HPV infection can also reduce the amount or quality of cervical mucus. Problems with this sticky or slippery substance that collects on the cervix and in the vagina can make it difficult for women to get pregnant. Men and women who weren't vaccinated as preteens can also get the vaccine into their early to mids.

Eggs may not mature properly for a variety of reasons, ranging from conditions such as PCOS, to obesity, to a lack of specific proteins needed for the egg to mature. An immature egg may not be released at the correct time, may not make it down the fallopian tubes, or may not be able to be fertilized.

Implantation failure refers to the failure of a fertilized egg to implant in the uterine wall to begin pregnancy. While the specific cause of implantation failure are often unknown, possibilities include: 3 , 4 , 5.

Endometriosis occurs when the cells that normally line the uterine cavity, called the endometrium, are found outside the uterus instead. Research has found a link between infertility and endometriosis. PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility. High levels of these hormones interfere with the development of ovarian follicles and release of eggs during ovulation.

As a result, fluid-filled sacs, or cysts, can develop within the ovaries. POI is a condition in which a woman's ovaries stop producing hormones and eggs at a young age. Women with POI ovulate irregularly, if at all, and may have abnormal levels of ovarian and pituitary hormones due to problems with their ovaries.

Women with POI often have trouble getting pregnant. However, pregnancy is still possible, though rare. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that form inside the uterus.

Uterine fibroids can cause symptoms in some cases, depending on their size and location. Scientists do not know what causes fibroids to form, but it is believed that there may be a genetic basis. Fibroids are more likely to affect a woman's fertility if they 12 :. A more detailed description of uterine fibroids can be found on the NICHD uterine fibroids topic page.

The heat can affect the number or shape of the sperm. Other factors that cause a man to make too few sperm or none at all. Movement of the sperm. This may be caused by the shape of the sperm.

Sometimes injuries or other damage to the reproductive system block the sperm. What increases a man's risk of infertility? Some things that may reduce the health or number of sperm include: Heavy alcohol use Drugs Smoking cigarettes Age Environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead Health problems such as mumps, serious conditions like kidney disease, or hormone problems Medicines Radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer.

What causes infertility in women? Less common causes of fertility problems in women include: Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease , endometriosis , or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy Physical problems with the uterus Uterine fibroids , which are non-cancerous clumps of tissue and muscle on the walls of the uterus.

What things increase a woman's risk of infertility? Many things can change a woman's ability to have a baby. These include: Age Smoking Excess alcohol use Stress Poor diet Athletic training Being overweight or underweight Sexually transmitted infections STIs Health problems that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency.

How does age affect a woman's ability to have children? Aging decreases a woman's chances of having a baby in the following ways: Her ovaries become less able to release eggs She has a smaller number of eggs left Her eggs are not as healthy She is more likely to have health conditions that can cause fertility problems She is more likely to have a miscarriage. How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors? So, women should talk to their doctors if they have: Irregular periods or no menstrual periods Very painful periods Endometriosis Pelvic inflammatory disease More than one miscarriage It is a good idea for any woman to talk to a doctor before trying to get pregnant.

How will doctors find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems? A woman can track her ovulation at home by: Writing down changes in her morning body temperature for several months Writing down how her cervical mucus looks for several months Using a home ovulation test kit available at drug or grocery stores Doctors can also check ovulation with blood tests.

Doctors inject a special dye into the uterus through the vagina. This dye shows up in the x-ray. Doctors can then watch to see if the dye moves freely through the uterus and fallopian tubes. This can help them find physical blocks that may be causing infertility. Blocks in the system can keep the egg from moving from the fallopian tube to the uterus. A block could also keep the sperm from reaching the egg.

Laparoscopy lap-uh-ROS-kuh-pee : A minor surgery to see inside the abdomen. The doctor does this with a small tool with a light called a laparoscope LAP-uh-roh-skohp. She or he makes a small cut in the lower abdomen and inserts the laparoscope. With the laparoscope, the doctor can check the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus for disease and physical problems. Doctors can usually find scarring and endometriosis by laparoscopy.

How do doctors treat infertility? Doctors recommend specific treatments for infertility based on: Test results How long the couple has been trying to get pregnant The age of both the man and woman The overall health of the partners Preference of the partners Doctors often treat infertility in men in the following ways: Sexual problems: Doctors can help men deal with impotence or premature ejaculation. Too few sperm: Sometimes surgery can correct the cause of the problem.

In other cases, doctors surgically remove sperm directly from the male reproductive tract. Antibiotics can also be used to clear up infections affecting sperm count. Sperm movement: Sometimes semen has no sperm because of a block in the man's system. In some cases, surgery can correct the problem. In women, some physical problems can also be corrected with surgery.

What medicines are used to treat infertility in women? Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include: Clomiphene citrate Clomid : This medicine causes ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland. It is often used in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS or other problems with ovulation.

This medicine is taken by mouth. Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG Repronex, Pergonal : This medicine is often used for women who don't ovulate due to problems with their pituitary gland. It is an injected medicine. It causes the ovaries to begin the process of ovulation. These medicines are usually injected. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone Gn-RH analog: These medicines are often used for women who don't ovulate regularly each month.

Women who ovulate before the egg is ready can also use these medicines. Gn-RH analogs act on the pituitary gland to change when the body ovulates. These medicines are usually injected or given with a nasal spray. Men should plan to see a doctor after one year of trying to conceive or if any of the following apply:. Your doctor will first take your medical history. A semen analysis will likely then be performed.

Your doctor will ask you to provide a sample of semen. This sample will then be checked in a laboratory to see how many sperm are present and whether the sperm are shaped normally and moving properly. Depending on the results of your initial exam and semen analysis, your doctor may want to perform additional tests.

Women under 35 should visit a doctor after one year of trying to get pregnant while women 35 and over should visit a doctor after 6 months of trying. An ultrasound may also be used to examine the ovaries and uterus.

Male infertility can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the cause. Treatment options for men can include surgery, medication, and assisted reproductive technology ART. Surgery can fix obstructions that are preventing sperm from being present in the ejaculate.

It can also correct conditions such as varicocele. In some cases, sperm can be retrieved directly from the testicles after which it can be used in ART treatments. Medications can be used to treat issues such as hormonal imbalances. They can also be used to treat other conditions that can affect male fertility, such as ED or infections that affect sperm count.

ART refers to treatments in which eggs and sperm are handled outside of the body. It can include treatments such as in vitro fertilization IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Sperm for ART treatments can be received from ejaculate, extraction from the testicles, or a donor. The treatment for female infertility can also involve surgery, medication, and reproductive assistance such as ART.

Sometimes several types of treatment are needed to help address female infertility. Although surgery can sometimes be used to treat female infertility, it has become rarer now due to advancements in other fertility treatments. Surgery can improve fertility by:.

After fertilization, the embryo is placed back into the uterus. The medications used to treat female infertility work like hormones that are naturally present in the body to either encourage or regulate ovulation. Explore the many different types of fertility drugs here.