Infertility (patient information): Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Bot: Removing from Primary care)
 
(13 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 10: Line 10:
*Infertility is grouped into two categories:
*Infertility is grouped into two categories:
:*Primary infertility refers to couples who have not become [[pregnant]] after at least 1 year of unprotected sex (intercourse).
:*Primary infertility refers to couples who have not become [[pregnant]] after at least 1 year of unprotected sex (intercourse).
:*Secondary infertility refers to couples who have been pregnant at least once, but never again.
:*Secondary infertility refers to couples who have been [[pregnant]] at least once, but never again.


==What are the symptoms of Infertility?==
==What are the symptoms of Infertility?==
*The main symptom of infertility is the inability to become pregnant. Specific symptoms depend on what is causing the infertility.
*The main symptom of infertility is the inability to become pregnant. Specific symptoms depend on what is causing the infertility.


*Infertility can cause many painful emotions in one or both partners.
*Infertility can cause many painful [[emotion]]s in one or both partners.


==What causes Infertility?==
==What causes Infertility?==
Line 24: Line 24:
*Female infertility may occur when:
*Female infertility may occur when:
:*A fertilized egg or embryo does not survive once it sticks to the lining of the womb (uterus)
:*A fertilized egg or embryo does not survive once it sticks to the lining of the womb (uterus)
:*The fertilized egg does not attach to the lining of the uterus
:*The fertilized egg does not attach to the lining of the [[uterus]]
:*The eggs cannot move from the ovaries to the womb
:*The eggs cannot move from the [[ovaries]] to the womb
:*The ovaries have problems producing eggs
:*The ovaries have problems producing eggs


*Female infertility may be caused by:
*Female infertility may be caused by:
:*Autoimmune disorders, such as [[antiphospholipid syndrome]] (APS)
:*[[Autoimmune]] disorders, such as [[antiphospholipid syndrome]] (APS)
:*Cancer or tumor
:*[[Cancer]] or tumor
:*Clotting disorders
:*Clotting disorders
:*Diabetes
:*[[Diabetes]]
:*Growths (such as [[uterine fibroids (patient information)|fibroids]] or polyps) in the uterus and cervix
:*Growths (such as [[uterine fibroids (patient information)|fibroids]] or polyps) in the uterus and [[cervix]]
:*Birth defects that affect the reproductive tract
:*Birth defects that affect the reproductive tract
:*Excessive exercising
:*Excessive exercising
:*Eating disorders or poor nutrition
:*Eating disorders or poor nutrition
:*Use of certain medications, including chemotherapy drugs
:*Use of certain medications, including [[chemotherapy]] drugs
:*[[Alcoholism (patient information)|Drinking too much alcohol]]
:*[[Alcoholism (patient information)|Drinking too much alcohol]]
:*[[Obesity]]
:*[[Obesity]]
:*Older age
:*Older age
:*Ovarian cysts and [[polycystic ovary syndrome (patient information)|polycystic ovary syndrome]] (PCOS)
:*Ovarian [[cyst]]s and [[polycystic ovary syndrome (patient information)|polycystic ovary syndrome]] (PCOS)
:*Pelvic infection or [[pelvic inflammatory disease (patient information)|pelvic inflammatory disease]] (PID)
:*Pelvic [[infection]] or [[pelvic inflammatory disease (patient information)|pelvic inflammatory disease]] (PID)
:*Scarring from [[sexually transmitted disease (patient information)|sexually transmitted infection]] or [[endometriosis (patient information)|endometriosis]]
:*Scarring from [[sexually transmitted disease (patient information)|sexually transmitted infection]] or [[endometriosis (patient information)|endometriosis]]
:*Thyroid disease
:*[[Thyroid]] disease
:*Too little or too much hormones
:*Too little or too much hormones


Line 50: Line 50:


*Male infertility may be due to:
*Male infertility may be due to:
:*A decrease in sperm count
:*A decrease in [[sperm]] count
:*Sperm being blocked from being released
:*Sperm being blocked from being released
:*Sperm that do not work properly
:*Sperm that do not work properly
Line 59: Line 59:
:*Birth defects
:*Birth defects
:*[[Alcoholism (patient information)|Heavy use of alcohol]], [[Substance abuse (patient information)|marijuana or cocaine]]
:*[[Alcoholism (patient information)|Heavy use of alcohol]], [[Substance abuse (patient information)|marijuana or cocaine]]
:*Too little or too much hormones
:*Too little or too much [[hormone]]s
:*[[Impotence (patient information)|Impotence]]
:*[[Impotence]]
:*Infection
:*Infection
:*Older age
:*Older age
:*Cancer treatments, including [[chemotherapy]] and [[radiation]]
:*Cancer treatments, including [[chemotherapy]] and [[radiation]]
:*Scarring from [[sexually transmitted disease (patient information)|sexually transmitted diseases]], injury, or surgery
:*Scarring from [[sexually transmitted disease (patient information)|sexually transmitted diseases]], injury, or surgery
:*[[Retrograde ejaculation (patient information)|Retrograde ejaculation]]
:*Retrograde [[ejaculation]]
:*[[Smoking]]
:*[[Smoking]]
:*Use of certain drugs, such as [[cimetidine]], [[spironolactone]], and [[nitrofurantoin]]
:*Use of certain drugs, such as [[cimetidine]], [[spironolactone]], and [[nitrofurantoin]]
Line 86: Line 86:
::*Blood tests to check hormone levels, including [[progesterone]] and [[follicle stimulating hormone]]
::*Blood tests to check hormone levels, including [[progesterone]] and [[follicle stimulating hormone]]
::*Checking body temperature first thing in the morning to check if the ovaries are releasing eggs
::*Checking body temperature first thing in the morning to check if the ovaries are releasing eggs
::*FSH and clomid challenge test
::*FSH and [[clomid]] challenge test
::*[[Hysterosalpingography]] (HSG)
::*[[Hysterosalpingography]] (HSG)
::*[[Ultrasound|Pelvic ultrasound]]
::*[[Ultrasound|Pelvic ultrasound]]
Line 94: Line 94:


:*Tests in men may include:
:*Tests in men may include:
::*Sperm testing
::*[[Sperm]] testing
::*Testicular biopsy (rarely done)
::*[[Testicular]] [[biopsy]] (rarely done)


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
Line 102: Line 102:
*It may involve:
*It may involve:
:*Education and counseling
:*Education and counseling
:*Fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and [[in vitro fertilization]] (IVF)
:*[[Fertility]] treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and [[in vitro fertilization]] (IVF)
:*Medicines to treat infections and clotting disorders
:*Medicines to treat infections and clotting disorders
:*Medicines that help the woman grow and release eggs from the ovaries
:*Medicines that help the woman grow and release eggs from the ovaries
Line 119: Line 119:
*As many as 1 in 5 couples diagnosed with infertility eventually become pregnant without treatment.
*As many as 1 in 5 couples diagnosed with infertility eventually become pregnant without treatment.


*More than half of couples with infertility become pregnant after treatment, not including advanced techniques such as [[in vitro fertiliziation]] (IVF).
*More than half of couples with infertility become pregnant after treatment, not including advanced techniques such as in vitro fertiliziation ([[IVF]]).


==Possible complications==
==Possible complications==
Line 130: Line 130:
*Maintaining a healthy diet, weight, and lifestyle may increase your chances for getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy.
*Maintaining a healthy diet, weight, and lifestyle may increase your chances for getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy.


*Take a prenatal or multivitamin containing folate before and during pregnancy. This lowers your risk for [[miscarriage (patient information)|miscarriage]] and developmental problems in the baby.
*Take a prenatal or multivitamin containing [[folate]] before and during pregnancy. This lowers your risk for [[miscarriage (patient information)|miscarriage]] and developmental problems in the baby.


==Support groups==
==Support groups==
Line 141: Line 141:
{{WH}}
{{WH}}
{{WS}}
{{WS}}
[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Obstetrics]]
[[Category:Obstetrics]]
[[category:Primary care]]
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Gynecology]]
[[Category:Gynecology]]
[[Category:Andrology]]
[[Category:Andrology]]
[[Category:Fertility medicine]]
[[Category:Fertility medicine]]

Latest revision as of 22:23, 29 July 2020

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Infertility

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Infertility?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Prevention

Infertility On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Infertility

Videos on Infertility

FDA on Infertility

CDC on Infertility

Infertility in the news

Blogs on Infertility

Directions to Hospitals Treating Infertility

Risk calculators and risk factors for Infertility

Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Overview

  • Infertility means you cannot make a baby (conceive).
  • Infertility is grouped into two categories:
  • Primary infertility refers to couples who have not become pregnant after at least 1 year of unprotected sex (intercourse).
  • Secondary infertility refers to couples who have been pregnant at least once, but never again.

What are the symptoms of Infertility?

  • The main symptom of infertility is the inability to become pregnant. Specific symptoms depend on what is causing the infertility.
  • Infertility can cause many painful emotions in one or both partners.

What causes Infertility?

  • A wide range of physical and emotional factors can cause infertility. Infertility may be due to problems in the woman, man, or both.

FEMALE INFERTILITY:

  • Female infertility may occur when:
  • A fertilized egg or embryo does not survive once it sticks to the lining of the womb (uterus)
  • The fertilized egg does not attach to the lining of the uterus
  • The eggs cannot move from the ovaries to the womb
  • The ovaries have problems producing eggs
  • Female infertility may be caused by:

MALE INFERTILITY:

  • Male infertility may be due to:
  • A decrease in sperm count
  • Sperm being blocked from being released
  • Sperm that do not work properly
  • Male infertility can be caused by:
  • In healthy couples under age 30 who have sex regularly, the chance of getting pregnant is about 25 - 30% per month.
  • A woman's peak fertility occurs in her early 20s. After age 35 (and especially 40), the chances that a woman can get pregnant drops considerably.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you are unable to get pregnant.

Diagnosis

  • When you should seek treatment for infertility depends on your age. It is recommended that women under 30 should generally try to get pregnant on their own for 1 year before seeking testing.
  • Infertility testing involves a complete medical history and physical examination of both partners.
  • Blood and imaging tests will be done.
  • In women, this may include:
  • Tests in men may include:

Treatment options

  • Treatment depends on the cause of infertility.
  • It may involve:
  • Education and counseling
  • Fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF)
  • Medicines to treat infections and clotting disorders
  • Medicines that help the woman grow and release eggs from the ovaries
  • It is important to recognize and discuss the emotional impact that infertility has on you and your partner, and to seek medical advice from your health care provider.
  • You can increase your chances of becoming pregnant each month by having sex at least every 3 days before and during ovulation. It is especially important to do so 72 hours before ovulation begins.
  • Ovulation occurs about 2 weeks before the next menstrual cycle (period) starts. If a woman gets her period every 28 days, the couple should have sex at least every 3 days between the 10th and 18th day after the period starts.

Where to find medical care for Infertility?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Infertility

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

  • As many as 1 in 5 couples diagnosed with infertility eventually become pregnant without treatment.
  • More than half of couples with infertility become pregnant after treatment, not including advanced techniques such as in vitro fertiliziation (IVF).

Possible complications

  • Infertility can have a big emotional impact on you and your partner.
  • Depression, anxiety, and marriage problems may occur.

Prevention

  • Maintaining a healthy diet, weight, and lifestyle may increase your chances for getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy.
  • Take a prenatal or multivitamin containing folate before and during pregnancy. This lowers your risk for miscarriage and developmental problems in the baby.

Support groups

Source

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001191.htm

Template:WH Template:WS