What is infertility?
Infertility means you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year (or six months if you’re 35 or older) without success, despite having regular sex without birth control. You may also have this condition if you’re able to get pregnant but have experienced multiple miscarriages.
Infertility is common and affects around 15% of US couples. It can be an emotionally challenging journey that many people face. Problems can occur at any point during the process of getting pregnant, from an egg’s release from the ovaries and passage through a fallopian tube to fertilization by sperm and attachment to the wall of the uterus.
Infertility is not just a female concern. Male reproductive factors contribute to about 50% of infertility cases.
No matter what causes the infertility, a fertility and reproductive health specialist can recommend a treatment that makes sense for you and increases your chances of starting or growing your family.
Infertility symptoms
The main symptom of infertility is an inability to get pregnant after months of having frequent, unprotected sex.
Women may have irregular periods or no periods at all, and men may have signs of hormonal issues, such as erectile dysfunction. However, many couples have no signs or symptoms except for an inability to achieve a successful pregnancy.
When to see a doctor
If you’re younger than 35, see your doctor if you haven’t been able to get pregnant after trying for a year. If you’re 35 or older, you may want to consult your doctor sooner, after six months of attempting to get pregnant.
In addition, it’s a good idea for you and your partner to see a doctor and discuss your family plans before trying to get pregnant if either of you has factors that may increase your risk of infertility. In women, these include previous miscarriages, no period, abnormal (irregular or unpredictable) or severely painful periods, endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease. In men, factors can include previous trauma to the testicles, hernia surgeries and chemotherapy treatments or fertility challenges in a previous relationship.
Infertility risk factors
Many factors can increase your risk of being unable to get or stay pregnant. Fortunately, many are within your power to change, which may help your pregnancy chances. Your doctor can help you better understand your risk and what you may be able to do to reduce it.
Risk factors include:
- Age: By a female’s mid-30s, the ovaries have fewer eggs to release, and their quality is poorer than at younger ages.
- Smoking: Smoking can damage the eggs and possibly the fallopian tubes. Smoking also increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, which causes miscarriage.
- Alcohol consumption: Heavy drinking may reduce the number of a female’s eggs.
- Overexercising: Exercising can aid fertility by helping you maintain a healthy weight and hormone levels, but overdoing it may disrupt ovulation.
- Weight: A high or low body weight can disrupt estrogen production and cause you to stop ovulating.
- Exposure: Radiation treatments, taking certain medications and exposure to pollutants or environmental contaminants can increase men’s and women’s risk of infertility.
- Other medical conditions: Many medical conditions can affect fertility or your reproductive health. They include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s disease.
Find infertility care near you
At Baylor Scott & White, our specialized fertility and reproductive health services provide comprehensive support to guide you on your journey to parenthood. We offer several locations for your care in North and Central Texas.
