Get the Facts on Infertility

We may not speak about it enough, but infertility is very common. More than 7.3 million Americans face infertility. That’s one in eight couples. So, if you’re starting your family planning or trying to get pregnant, remember there are many different ways to make a family.

If you’re concerned about infertility or the ability to conceive, get the facts. You have options and we’re here to help.

If we don’t get pregnant right away, are we infertile?

Very few couples get pregnant in the first few months of trying. However, if you have been trying for a year or longer, it might be time to consult an expert. “The longer a couple has been trying to get pregnant without success, the greater the likelihood that there is something that needs to be investigated,” Dr. Carnovale advises. “Because of the importance of the female partner’s age, if she is 35 years of age or older, then after six months of trying without success she should seek medical advice.”

What causes infertility?

There is no single cause of infertility for women, and it’s important to remember that it’s no one’s “fault.” Many factors may be at play, including hormones, the health of eggs and sperm endometriosis—just to name a few.

"Other conditions, such as uterine fibroids, that effect the ability of the pregnancy to continue and result in a healthy baby being born may also be present,” explains Dr. Carnovale. “In many cases, there are multiple factors—both male and female in origin—that together delay and in some cases prevent pregnancy. It is important to find out what may be delaying or preventing pregnancy so that conditions can be treated before they get worse.”

Infertility can also be tied to conditions seemingly unrelated to your reproductive health. Your BMI, stress levels and smoking habits can all influence your ability to bear children.

So, it’s important to know what factors are contributing to your ability to get pregnant. Knowledge is power. Once you better understand the contributing factors, you can begin to explore your options.

What should we do if we are infertile?

Experiencing infertility does not necessarily mean you are incapable of having children biologically. Two commonly recommended approaches are medications and surgery. These two options are incredibly common, and are successful in roughly 90% of cases.

Further options include in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. “IVF has been around for 40 years, and millions of babies have been born as a result of this medical procedure,” Dr. Carnovale informs us. “While IVF may seem extreme to some couples, many times it is the only treatment with a realistic chance for ending their infertility.”

“Other couples think IVF means multiple pregnancy, which is understandable. However, since 2017, for women under 38 years of age doing IVF with good quality embryos, it is recommended that they only have a single embryo transferred,” Dr. Carnovale continues.

Learn more about our state-of-the-art services, and get the support you need in beginning your family.