Common Fertility Problems

Are you worried about having difficulty getting pregnant?

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, infertility affects more than 6 million people of childbearing age. Most medical specialists agree that one year after trying without success to become pregnant, a couple should consult an infertility specialist for an assessment. Together you can work with your health care provider to develop a plan to uncover and overcome any problems.

Reasons for infertility

Reasons for infertility are divided fairly evenly between problems in men and problems in women. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine says that about a third of the time it’s a male issue and a third of the time it’s a female issue. About 10-15% of the time it’s a combination of male and female problems, and the rest of the time the cause of infertility can not be clearly determined.

Some common causes of male infertility:

• No sperm or not enough sperm
• Poor sperm mobility (the sperm don’t move enough)
• Sperm that are shaped abnormally

A man’s lifestyle can affect the number and quality of a his sperm. Using alcohol and drugs can temporarily reduce the quality of a man’s sperm (the number, shape, and mobility of the sperm).

Some common causes of female infertility:

• Problems with ovulation
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Problems with the thyroid gland
• Diabetes mellitus
• Cyst(s) in one or both ovaries
• Endometriosis — abnormal tissue growth around the ovaries, uterus and other organs
• Benign uterine fibroids
• Pelvic inflammatory disease

Endometriosis, benign fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease are common causes of blocked fallopian tubes, which when present do not allow the egg to travel through the tubes and into the uterus. Problems with ovulation may be indicated by irregular or lack of menstrual periods. Medical problems such as diabetes or high or low thyroid levels can lead to infertility.

Talk with your health care provider if you are unable to conceive.