Infertility

Infertility is classically defined as 12 months of unprotected intercourse without achieving a pregnancy. This definition does not take into account the importance of the individual. The situation is clearly different if the patients are in their early twenties as opposed to their early forties.

 

Speed of conception in the general population:

Once a couple has been sexually active without contraception for a year, it is unlikely that they will achieve a spontaneous pregnancy. There is approximately 1 to 2 in 100 probability of a conception during the next ovulation. After two years, the probability approaches 1 in 1000.

 

Please note that there is no distinction between having unprotected intercourse and "trying" to conceive. They both represent "exposure" to conception.

 

There are hundreds of possible causes of infertility. They include male and female structural problems, functional disorders, genetic causes of infertility, hormonal imbalances, and immunological aspects of infertility.

 

The vast majority of infertility causes will fall into one or more of the following three categories:

1. Male Factor Infertility: Sperm production and sperm quality.
2. Ovulation and Hormonal Production: Egg production, egg quality and preparation of the uterine lining for implantation.
3. Passage: The joining of sperm and egg in the Fallopian tubes and transport of the fertilized egg to the uterus.

Female Age and Fertility:

The loss of female fertility is due to the loss of high quality eggs. The receptiveness of the uterus is not decreased. This loss of fertility magnifies the impact of any other fertility factors present.

 

Women older than 35 years should seek an infertility specialist after 9 months of sexual activity without contraception; 3 months after the age of 40. Please see Female Fertility Potential for additional information about the impact of female aging.

 

Your physical condition could make an enormous difference between successfully achieving a birth and going through years of frustration. Optimizing your fertility potential can have a considerable impact on the probability of a successful pregnancy.

 

If you have any questions regarding the above information or to request an appointment, please contact us by phone at 650-322-0500, via email at care@BayIVF.com, or use the Contact Bay IVF Center form on this page.