Infertility Management
What is infertility?
Infertility is a condition of your reproductive system that causes people to be unable to get pregnant (conceive). Infertility can affect anyone and has many causes. Getting pregnant involves several steps:
- Your brain must produce reproductive hormones that control ovarian function.
- An egg must mature in your ovary.
- Your ovary must release an egg (ovulation).
- Your fallopian tube must pick up the egg.
- Sperm must travel up your vagina and through the uterus to your fallopian tube.
- The sperm fertilizes the egg to create an embryo.
- The embryo travels through your fallopian tube to the uterus where it implants.
A pregnancy can’t occur if anything in this process doesn’t happen.
If you’re younger than 35, your healthcare provider may diagnose infertility after one year (12 months) of trying to conceive. Trying to conceive is defined as having regular, unprotected sex. If you’re 35 or older, your provider may diagnose infertility after six months of regular, unprotected sex.
Infertility is more common than you might think. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for people who wish to begin or expand their family.
What are the types of infertility?
Types of infertility include:
- Primary infertility: You’ve never been pregnant and can’t conceive after one year (or six months if you’re 35 or older) of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.
- Secondary infertility: You can’t get pregnant again after having at least one successful pregnancy.
- Unexplained infertility: Fertility testing hasn’t found a reason that a person or couple is unable to get pregnant.