Doctors define infertility as not being able to get pregnant after 12 months of having sex regularly without using birth control.

You may consider seeking fertility help after just six months of trying if you’re over 35. That’s because your chance of conceiving lowers over time. In your 20s or early 30s, the chance you’ll get pregnant is approximately 18% in any single menstrual cycle. By the time you’re 40, your chance of getting pregnant is 3 - 5% with every menstrual cycle.

But infertility doesn’t necessarily mean you can never have children. With new fertility treatments and procedures, many couples can expand their families. Female fertility pills, IVF, and even surgery can overcome problems of infertility.

These are the 2 basic types of infertility.

Primary infertility

For some people, infertility is a challenge from the very beginning of their journey. Primary infertility means you have trouble getting pregnant for the first time.

If you’re in your 20s or early 30s, doctors suggest trying for a year before seeking help for infertility. Some couples get pregnant right away, while others take a few more months. Anything under 12 months is normal.

Secondary infertility

Some people conceive and have a healthy pregnancy, then have a hard time getting pregnant again. Doctors use the term secondary infertility in this case. 

Secondary infertility is just as common as primary infertility. However, many couples feel hesitant to get help because they already have one healthy child.
 

Infertility may be due to health issues in the man, the woman, or both.

Reasons for infertility include:

• There are no eggs or sperm released
• The eggs or sperm aren't healthy
• The eggs and sperm can’t get to where they need to be
• The eggs or the sperm have genetic changes
• The embryo doesn’t attach to the uterine lining
• The embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus but doesn’t survive

Sometimes, doctors can’t find a cause for infertility. They call this unexplained infertility.

Certain factors can make it harder to get pregnant. 

These include:

• Ovulation problems: The ovary doesn't release an egg every month. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid issues, or hormone changes can cause this.
• Your age: As women get older, the number and quality of eggs goes down, especially after the age of 35 years.
• Blocked tubes or uterus issues: If the fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, the egg can’t meet the sperm. Growths in the uterus, like fibroids or polyps, can also make it harder to get pregnant.
• Endometriosis: This is when tissue like the lining of the uterus grows in the wrong place. It can cause pain and sometimes block eggs and sperm from meeting.
• Other health problems: Long-term illnesses like diabetes, some autoimmune diseases, or past cancer can affect fertility.
• Lifestyle factors: Being overweight or very underweight can cause problems with periods. Smoking, heavy drinking, or too much stress or exercise can also make pregnancy harder.

If you’re doing everything right and not getting those 2 lines on a pregnancy test after a year of trying, it’s time to see a fertility specialist. 

And if you're 35+ and have been trying for 6 months without success, seek help sooner. If you’re over 40 and want to get pregnant, talk to your doctor right away.

If you already have an issue, such as blocked fallopian tubes or abnormal cycles from PCOS, seek the help of a fertility expert when you start trying.

We have many ways to treat infertility. Your care options will depend on the reason for infertility and how long you’ve been trying. We will provide fertility testing to figure out the best treatment option for you.

We will always start with the most conservative approach. Your infertility treatment may include:

Lifestyle changes

Maintaining a healthy weight, cutting down on alcohol, and quitting smoking can all improve your chances of getting pregnant. Exercising too much or eating too little can also interfere with fertility by stopping your cycle.

Some couples find success in timed intercourse, that is, tracking ovulation and making sure to have sex around that time. You can try this with or without fertility medicine.

Medicine

Fertility medicines stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. Your doctor may prescribe these drugs if your periods aren't regular or don’t happen at all. They may combine them with other infertility care.

Fertility medicines raise the chance of multiples. Being pregnant with more than one baby puts you at higher risk for premature birth and pregnancy-related health issues.

Procedures

Doctors may suggest surgery or another procedure if you have a health issue or physical difference that prevents conception. This may include uterine fibroids or blocked fallopian tubes.

Assisted conception 

Assisted contraception options include IVF and intrauterine insemination (IUI), also called artificial insemination. Our team can guide you through your options and connect you with specialists who provide these advanced treatments.

During an IUI, a doctor places sperm directly into your uterus. Doctors use an IUI for unexplained infertility, same-sex female couples using donated sperm, or when a man has a low sperm count. The doctors sort the collected sperm to ensure they only use the healthiest ones.

With IVF, the doctor removes eggs from your body in an egg retrieval procedure and mixes them with sperm in a lab. If you don’t produce eggs or your eggs aren’t healthy, donor egg IVF may be an option.

The resulting embryo gets transferred back to your uterus during another procedure. IVF gets done in cycles and usually takes more than one cycle. Your doctor will also give you fertility medicines during each cycle.