Finding the Cause of Your Infertility

The first step in achieving your dream of a baby is to find out what's causing your infertility. Remember, it's not anybody's "fault." And it's certainly not one person's problem. Infertility is always a couple's issue.

As a general rule:

• One-third of infertility is related to the man
• One-third is related to the woman
• One-third has a combination of causes - or we just don't know the cause

Some of the health factors that could contribute to your infertility are:

• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic adhesions
• Structural problems with the reproductive tract
• Polycystic ovarian disease
• Fibroids
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Age of the woman
• Shape, number and movement of sperm

Because there are so many possible causes, we test both of you. We take detailed health histories, then perform specific individual tests. Because women's reproductive systems are more complicated, there are more things we need to look for.

Finding causes of male infertility

Problems in men usually relate to quantity, quality or movement of sperm. Sperm may be immature, abnormally shaped or unable to move properly. Or, normal sperm may be produced in abnormally low numbers or seemingly not at all.

These problems may be caused by many different conditions, including:

• Infectious diseases or inflammatory conditions such as mumps
• Endocrine or hormonal disorders such as Kallman's syndrome or pituitary problem
• Immunological disorders (some men produce antibodies to their own sperm)
• Environmental and lifestyle factors
• Genetic diseases (most are associated with sperm abnormalities, either directly or indirectly)

The goal of testing is to find out whether the man's sperm is able to fertilize the woman's egg. We conduct a thorough assessment of male fertility in our andrology laboratory.We analyze the sperm and the semen (fluid the sperm travels in) for:

• Semen volume
• Consistency and pH
• Sperm count, movement and shape

Finding causes of female infertility

Problems in women often relate to ovulation, or egg production. Stress, diet, physical training or hormonal problems can cause fluctuations in ovulation. A woman with ovulation problems will have irregular menstrual periods or no periods.

The number and quality of a woman’s eggs declines as she ages. This is often a major factor for women over 35. In fact, if you are 35 or older, don't wait a year to seek help. If you have tried to get pregnant for six months without success, it's time to see a specialist.

Other causes of infertility in women are:

• Blocked fallopian tubes caused by endometriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Other physical conditions

Testing usually includes:

• Hormonal studies
• Ovulation tests
• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG), an X-ray of the fallopian tubes and uterus

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