Symptoms
Complications of infertility treatment may include: Multiple pregnancy. The most common complication of infertility treatment is a multiple pregnancy — twins, triplets or more. Generally, the greater the number of fetuses, the higher the risk of premature labor and delivery, as well as problems during pregnancy such as gestational diabetes.
Causes
Infertility is a condition where you cannot get pregnant after one year of trying to conceive. In women, cause of infertility can include endometriosis, uterine fibroids and thyroid disease. Men with fertility problems may have a low sperm count or low testosterone. The risk of infertility increases as you age. What is infertility?
Complications
Other factors, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids, can also play a role in infertility, though many women with these conditions conceive healthy children without trouble. Weight is another significant risk factor for women.
What are the complications of infertility treatment?
In women, smoking and drinking alcohol at moderate or heavy levels may reduce fertility. In men, smoking, heavy drinking, and using marijuana can reduce sperm count and movement. How can health conditions affect fertility? In men, infertility can be caused when the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles are blocked.
What is infertility and how can you prevent it?
What are the risk factors for infertility?
How do other health conditions affect fertility?
What are the risks of fertility treatments?
RisksMultiple births. IVF increases the risk of multiple births if more than one embryo is transferred to your uterus. ... Premature delivery and low birth weight. ... Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. ... Miscarriage. ... Egg-retrieval procedure complications. ... Ectopic pregnancy. ... Birth defects. ... Cancer.More items...•
What are some risk factors of infertility?
These factors increase the risk of infertility in all genders:Age (over age 35 for women or over 40 for men).Diabetes.Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia.Excessive alcohol use.Exposure to environmental toxins, such as lead and pesticides.Over exercising.More items...•
Which is the biggest danger in causing infertility?
Environmental and lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake and obesity can affect fertility. In addition, exposure to environmental pollutants and toxins can be directly toxic to gametes (eggs and sperm), resulting in their decreased numbers and poor quality, leading to infertility.
What is involved in fertility treatment?
Fertility treatments often include medications that help with hormones and ovulation, sometimes combined with minor surgical procedures. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) describes several kinds of procedures that can help you have a baby.
What are risk factors for infertility in females?
Hormonal imbalances, a past eating disorder, substance abuse, thyroid conditions, severe stress and pituitary tumors are all examples of things that can affect ovulation. Problems with egg number and quality: Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, and this supply can “run out” early before menopause.
What are 5 risk factors that affect female fertility?
Risk factorsAge. The quality and quantity of a woman's eggs begin to decline with age. ... Smoking. Besides damaging your cervix and fallopian tubes, smoking increases your risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. ... Weight. Being overweight or significantly underweight may affect ovulation. ... Sexual history. ... Alcohol.
Can men get pregnant?
People who are born male and living as men cannot get pregnant. A transgender man or nonbinary person may be able to, however. It is only possible for a person to be pregnant if they have a uterus. The uterus is the womb, which is where the fetus develops.
Which of the following is most likely to be a cause of infertility in a woman quizlet?
PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.
What are environmental causes of infertility?
What are Environmental Factors that Affect Fertility? Certain industrial chemicals, environmental pollutants and radiation are known to contribute to or cause infertility. Lead poisoning, for example, has long been associated with infertility in both men and women.
What are the disadvantages of IVF treatment?
Disadvantages of IVF There are side effects form the drugs used, such as hot flushes and severe headaches. There is a possibility of multiple births, which is dangerous for mother and babies. Ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHS), when too many eggs develop in the ovaries.
Is fertility treatment painful?
Fertility Medications Patients may experience some discomfort as the injection is being administered. The level of this pain depends on how comfortable the patient is with needles and shots. The IVF medications are associated with a range of side effects, one of which is abdominal cramping.
What is the first step in treating infertility?
The First Step: Accurate Infertility Testing and DiagnosisA complete review of your personal and family medical/reproductive history.Semen analysis ad male factor infertility testing (we prefer to repeat a semen analysis even if you received the “green light” from your GP.More items...•
What are the causes of infertility?
Chemical causes may include cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, marijuana and cocaine use, and excessive caffeine intake. Occupational hazards such as some pesticides, industrial toxins like dioxin and PCBs, and exposure to heavy metals may also be linked to infertility.
What are the factors that affect infertility?
Other factors, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids, can also play a role in infertility, though many women with these conditions conceive healthy children without trouble. Weight is another significant risk factor for women. Women who are overweight have decreased fertility and an increased risk for miscarriage.
Why is it difficult to make recommendations on how to prevent exposure to many of these toxins?
Unfortunately, it is difficult to make recommendations on how to prevent exposure to many of these toxins because their sources are common, the exposure levels unclear and the populations at risk are difficult to define.
What is the most important factor in a woman's ability to conceive?
Maternal age is probably the most significant factor related to a woman's ability to conceive. While many women today are waiting to become pregnant, the ovary's ability to produce normal, healthy eggs declines with age, increasing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities and unsuccessful implantation and pregnancy.
When does the likelihood of successful pregnancy decrease?
The likelihood for successful pregnancy begins to decrease in the early 30s. While this decline is initially quite minimal, as years pass, the rate of decline in fertility increases and begins to rapidly accelerate around 37 to 38 years of age, with an acute fall beyond 42 years of age.
Does exposure to environmental agents affect sperm quality?
This is because it is hard to actually demonstrate the cause-effect relationship of toxins to sperm quality.
Does being overweight affect fertility?
Women who are overweight have decreased fertility and an increased risk for miscarriage. Additionally, very low body weight may be associated with infertility and miscarriage. It is important to maintain a healthy body weight, with a body mass index (BMI) between 20 to 25, and to live a healthy lifestyle. Extremes in diet and exercise are ...
What are the factors that increase the risk of infertility in all genders?
These factors increase the risk of infertility in all genders: Age (over age 35 for women or over 40 for men). Diabetes. Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Excessive alcohol use. Exposure to environmental toxins, such as lead and pesticides.
What causes infertility in women?
In women, cause of infertility can include endometriosis, uterine fibroids and thyroid disease. Men with fertility problems may have a low sperm count or low testosterone. The risk of infertility increases as you age.
What are the treatments for erectile dysfunction?
Medications: Medications can raise testosterone or other hormone levels. There are also drugs for erectile dysfunction. Surgery: Some men need surgery to open blockages in the tubes that store and carry sperm. Varicocele surgery can make sperm healthier and can improve the odds of conception.
What is sperm analysis?
Semen analysis: This test checks for problems with sperm, such as low sperm count and poor mobility. Some men need a needle biopsy to remove sperm from the testicles and test it. For most men, this is the only test that will be needed in the workup of infertility.
How many states require employers to cover fertility treatments?
According to The National Infertility Association (Resolve), 19 states have laws requiring employers to cover certain fertility treatments. Each state law is different. You can visit the National Infertility Association’s website to see what protections, if any, your state offers.
What is the procedure for transferring an embryo into the uterus?
A provider transfers one of the fertilized eggs (embryo) into the uterus. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI ): This procedure is similar to IVF. An embryologist (highly specialized lab technician) directly injects a single sperm into each of the harvested eggs and then a provider transfers an embryo into the uterus.
What is the difference between IVF and IUI?
Intrauterine insemination (IUI): A healthcare provider uses a long, thin tube to place sperm directly into the uterus. In vitro fertilization (IV F): IVF is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART). It involves harvesting the eggs at the end of the stimulation and placing sperm and eggs together in a lab dish.
What are the complications of infertility?
The most common complication of infertility treatment is a multiple pregnancy — twins, triplets or more. Generally, the greater the number of fetuses, the higher the risk of premature labor and delivery, as well as problems during pregnancy such as gestational diabetes.
Why is it so hard to cope with infertility?
Coping with infertility can be extremely difficult because there are so many unknowns. The journey can take an emotional toll on a couple. Taking these steps can help you cope:
What is the reproductive tract?
The reproductive tract must allow an egg to pass into the fallopian tubes and join with sperm for fertilization. The fertilized egg must travel to the uterus and implant in the lining. Tests for female infertility try to find out if any of these processes are impaired.
What to do before infertility testing?
Before infertility testing, your doctor or clinic works to understand your sexual habits and may make recommendations to improve your chances of getting pregnant. In some infertile couples, no specific cause is found (unexplained infertility). Infertility evaluation can be expensive, and sometimes involves uncomfortable procedures.
What is the substance that is injected into the uterus called?
In HSG, a thin tube is threaded through the vagina and cervix. A substance known as contrast material is injected into the uterus. A series of X-rays, or fluoroscopy, follows the dye, which appears white on X-ray, as it moves into the uterus and then into the tubes.
How to increase sperm count?
Certain medications may improve sperm count and likelihood for achieving a successful pregnancy. These medicines may increase testicular function, including sperm production and quality. Surgery. For some conditions, surgery may be able to reverse a sperm blockage and restore fertility.
Where is the fertilized egg transferred?
The fertilized egg (embryo) is transferred into the uterus (C). In intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a single healthy sperm is injected directly into each mature egg. ICSI is often used when semen quality or number is a problem or if fertilization attempts during prior in vitro fertilization cycles failed.
Infertility Diagnosis
Staring down at negative pregnancy tests month after month can be soul crushing. Or knowing from the start that building your family will be an uphill battle, you need to make sure you sure you have enough information to make the choices right for you.
Risk Factors
There are many different risk factors that can play a huge part when it comes to your fertility. Whether you are protecting your future fertility or trying to conceive now, it is helpful to know of the many potential risk factors in your life.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Coping and Support
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Before infertility testing, your doctor or clinic works to understand your sexual habits and may make recommendations to improve your chances of getting pregnant. In some infertile couples, no specific cause is found (unexplained infertility). Infertility evaluation can be expensive, and sometimes involves uncomfortable procedures. Some medical plans may not cover the cost of f…