Understanding Infertility
What is Infertility?
The term “infertility” is often highly misunderstood and therefore can carry with it a stigma that is completely unwarranted. In the medical community, “infertility” is used to describe:
- Women of a normal childbearing age who have not become pregnant after at least one year of trying
- Women who can get pregnant, but have not been able to carry the pregnancy to term and achieve a live birth
- Men who have not been able to impregnate a woman after at least one year of trying
Infertility problems are more common than many people realize. Approximately 12% of people in the US and 16% in Canada experience difficulty having a baby. One third of infertility cases are attributed to women, another third to men, and the rest are from either a combination of factors, or an unknown cause.
Today, reproductive technology is helping aspiring parents to have healthy babies – even those who have been trying unsuccessfully for years. So, the answer is YES, fertility treatment does work! The first step in infertility treatment is receiving an accurate diagnosis from a fertility specialist.
Common Reasons for Infertility
ELITE IVF has a long-standing track record of helping patients overcome infertility and grow their families. Fertility treatment can help with the following issues:
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Ovulation Problems
Primary Ovarian Failure (POF), also known as Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), is a condition in which the woman’s ovaries stop producing certain hormones and eggs before the age of 40. Without eggs, a woman cannot get pregnant and may need fertility treatment if she wishes to have a baby.
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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in women. This is the result of a hormonal imbalance which interferes with the development, release and, in some cases, quality of eggs. Even if the uterus releases a healthy egg, implantation – and hence pregnancy – may not occur.
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Blocked Fallopian Tubes
Damage and scarring to the fallopian tubes can stop eggs from travelling to the uterus. Common causes of blocked fallopian tubes include: pelvic inflammatory disease, previous surgeries and endometriosis, where the tubes become damaged or blocked with cysts. In some women, this can prevent a successful pregnancy.
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Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are common, non-cancerous tumors that can affect conception in some women. The tumors grow in the uterus or womb and, while they do not always cause symptoms, can be a source of pain and cause heavy bleeding. If they interfere with pregnancy, the woman may need to seek fertility treatment. More than 200,000 hysterectomies a year occur from uterine fibroids.
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Physical Problems with the Uterine Wall
Structural abnormalities in the uterine wall can impact conception or the ability to bring a baby to full-term. In this case, infertility treatment can be of great support.