What is infertility?
Infertility refers to the inability to conceive a pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. It affects an estimated 1 in 8 couples, making it an extremely common issue.
Some key things to know:
- Primary infertility refers to couples who have never been able to conceive. Secondary infertility refers to when couples conceive initially but then have trouble conceiving again.
- There are many potential causes of infertility in both men and women:
- For women - problems with ovulation, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, poor egg quality
- For men - low sperm count or quality, varicoceles, ejaculatory issues
- Basic fertility testing can identify risk factors and causes. Common tests look at ovulation, egg quality, the uterus, fallopian tubes and semen analysis.
- Depending on the cause, there are various fertility treatment options:
- Fertility medications to improve ovulation
- Artificial insemination procedures like IUI
- Assisted reproductive technologies like IVF
- Lifestyle changes like weight management, diet, exercise and stress reduction may also help improve odds. Seeking help early optimizes chances.
I faced infertility myself after having my first child. It was an emotionally difficult journey. Working with the wonderful doctors at Vital Hormones Clinic, we discovered I had a thyroid hormone imbalance limiting ovulation. After customized thyroid treatment and an IUI procedure, I'm now overjoyed to be pregnant again!
Vital Hormones Clinic provides patient-centered fertility and hormone treatments tailored to the unique medical needs of each individual or couple. Their top-rated fertility specialists and advanced technologies helped me finally achieve my dream of having another baby. I highly recommend them to anyone struggling with infertility.