Infertility is more common than you think. According the the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 reproductive age people are impacted by infertility globally. As defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), infertility is a disease characterized by the inability to achieve a successful pregnancy based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors.
Infertility can be an emotional and sometimes difficult process. Month after month of failed pregnancy tests can cause a great deal of emotional turmoil for a couple. Add to this the dizzying amount of disinformation and myths floating around to confuse the situation.
First things first
Knowing basic information about some of the red flags that may indicate a possible fertility issue will help you get on the right track with treatment. No one knows your body more than you, so start by asking yourself these questions:
- Are my periods painful?
- Can I track when I ovulate?
- Have I had more than one miscarriage?
- Do have an unhealthy Body Mass Index (BMI) either underweight or overweight?
- Has my partner or I ever had a history of STDs?
Infertility causes in women are often related to problems with ovulation, fallopian tube blockage, endometriosis, or aging. Additionally, weight, lifestyle choices and cancer treatments can also affect fertility. Infertility causes in men can be linked to male factors such low sperm counts or poor sperm motility and unhealthy lifestyle habits.
When to seek a fertility specialist
If you are having problems conceiving, the rule of thumb of when to see a specialist is after 12 months of trying if you are under 35 and after 6 months if you are over 35. If you have a known condition that may be affecting your fertility, you should seek help right away if you want to conceive.
In some cases, testing provides no answers to why you have not been able to conceive. Talking with a specialist or reproductive endocrinologist about your inability to conceive may allow you to benefit from the latest advances in fertility treatments.
