Infertility

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What is infertility?

Infertility is defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as a disease of the reproductive system that impairs the body's ability to perform the basic function of reproduction.

Infertility affects about 12 percent of couples of childbearing age. Infertility is not just a woman's concern. A problem with the male is the sole cause, or a contributing cause, of infertility in about 50 percent of infertile couples. About one third of infertile couples have more than one cause or factor related to their inability to conceive. About 20 percent of couples have no identifiable cause for their infertility after medical investigation.

What causes infertility?

Many different factors and problems can cause infertility, including problems in the female reproductive system.

Female conditions or factors that are associated with infertility:

  • Ovulation Dysfunction: With this condition, the woman's reproductive system does not produce the proper amounts of hormones necessary to develop, mature, and release a healthy egg.
  • Anatomical Problems: Abnormal development or function of the female anatomy can prevent the egg and the sperm from meeting. The most common anatomical problem is blockage of the fallopian tubes. Other anatomical problems may include the presence of pelvic scar tissue from previous surgeries or infections.
  • Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus develops outside the uterus, usually on other reproductive organs inside the pelvis or in the abdominal cavity. Each month, this misplaced tissue responds to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle by building up and breaking down, resulting in internal bleeding which can cause scar tissue to form and affect reproductive organ function.
  • Birth Defects: Abnormal development and function of reproductive organs resulting from birth defects can affect fertility. One of the most common reproductive system birth defects occurs following a woman's exposure to DES (diethylstilbestrol) taken by her mother during pregnancy. In years past, DES was given to women at risk for pregnancy loss. Fetal DES exposure often causes abnormal development of the uterus and cervix.
  • Infection from Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Caused by a type of bacteria such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. PID can affect the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or the ovaries. It can lead to pelvic adhesions and scar tissue that develops between internal organs, causing ongoing pelvic pain and the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy (the fertilized egg becomes implanted outside the uterus).
  • Immunological Problems: A problem with a woman's immune system can lead to pregnancy loss. Antibodies (immune or protective proteins) in a woman's system can fail to recognize a pregnancy, or there may be an abnormal immune response to the pregnancy. Women can also develop antisperm antibodies which attack and destroy sperm.

Male conditions or factors that are associated with infertility:

  • Low or absent sperm production: Without proper numbers of healthy sperm, the chance of fertilization is decreased.
  • Abnormal sperm function: Sperm must have proper motility and the ability to penetrate the egg.
  • Varicocele: This is a condition in which varicose veins develop around the testes. It is a very common cause of male factor infertility and is usually treatable and reversible with surgery.
  • Lifestyle use of recreational drugs (i.e., marijuana, cocaine), heavy alcohol use, cigarette smoking, certain medications, and excessive heat to the genital area (as in hot tubs) can affect sperm quality and function.
  • Hormonal disorders: Improper male hormone or endocrine function can affect sperm production and fertilization ability.
  • Chromosomal defects: Certain chromosomal abnormalities are associated with male infertility.
  • Birth Defects: Abnormalities in a man's reproductive system can occur during fetal development. Some birth defects are due to a man's exposure to DES (diethylstilbestrol) taken by his mother during pregnancy.
  • Immunological problems: A man may have antisperm antibodies (immune or protective proteins) which attack and destroy sperm

How is infertility diagnosed?

When conception does not occur after one year of unprotected intercourse, or after six months in women over age 35, or if there are known problems causing infertility, a medical evaluation of both the male and female is recommended. Some obstetrician/gynecologists (Ob/Gyns) are able to provide basic infertility evaluation and treatment. However, many causes of infertility are best treated by a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist. Generally, the Ob/Gyn or reproductive endocrinologist will evaluate specific situations and perform tests in both the male and female partners to determine the cause of infertility. The physician is looking for answers to the following questions:

  • Is the female ovulating regularly?
  • Is the male producing healthy, viable sperm?
  • Are the female's egg and the male's sperm able to unite and grow normally?
  • Are there any obstacles to proper implantation and maintenance of the pregnancy?

The following tests are often part of the basic medical workup for infertility:

Both Partners

  • Medical and sexual history: To evaluate possible physical causes of infertility and if sexual intercourse has been appropriately timed.

Female

  • Physical examination: A complete physical examination (including a Pap smear and testing for infection) will be necessary.
  • Ovulation evaluation: An evaluation of ovulation function using an analysis of body temperatures and ovulation called the basal body temperature chart, or with ovulation prediction methods using urine samples, may be recommended.
  • Hormone testing: Hormone testing may be recommended, as certain hormones increase and decrease in production at various times in the monthly cycle.
  • Ultrasound: Ultrasound can show the presence of follicles (the sacs containing developing eggs) and the thickness of the uterine tissues. Ultrasound can also show abnormal conditions, such as ovarian cysts or fibroids (benign tumors in the uterus).
  • X-rays: A hysterosalpingogram may be recommended. This test uses a radio-opaque dye injected into the cervical opening to visualize the inside of the uterus and determine if the fallopian tubes are open.

Male

  • Semen Analysis: A collection of a semen sample obtained by masturbation that is analyzed in the laboratory for the sperm count, sperm motility, sperm shape, quantity, and evaluation of the ejaculate liquid may be recommended.

Other tests may be performed that evaluate the sperm's ability to penetrate the egg, as well as male hormone testing. Men may be referred to a urologist for further evaluation.

How is infertility treated?

Specific treatment will be determined by your physician based on your age, medical history, and preferences. Once a diagnosis is made, the specialist can work with you to determine the course of treatment. Depending on the cause of infertility, there are many options to offer an infertile couple. Types of treatments for women may include the following:

  • Ovulation medications: These medications help regulate the timing of ovulation and stimulate the development and release of mature eggs. They can also help correct hormonal problems that can affect the lining of the uterus as it prepares to receive a fertilized egg. Ovulation medications can stimulate more than one egg to be released which increases the possibility of having twins and other multiples.
  • Intrauterine insemination: For some conditions, including low sperm count and cervical mucus problems, a procedure that places specially washed and prepared sperm directly into the uterus through a small catheter (flexible tube) helps increase the chances for conception. This procedure is often used in combination with ovulation medications.
  • Surgery: Surgery may be used to treat or repair a condition that is causing infertility such as fallopian tube blockage, or endometriosis. A common surgical procedure often used as part of the diagnostic workup of infertility is the laparoscopy. In a laparoscopy, a small telescope inserted into the abdominal or pelvic cavity allows internal organs to be visualized. Some procedures to treat infertility can be performed using instruments inserted through the laparoscope.
  • Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): For some couples, more extensive treatment is needed. With most forms of ART, the sperm and egg are united in the laboratory and the fertilized egg is returned to the woman's uterus where it can implant and develop. Although ART procedures are often costly, many are being used with success. These include the following:
    • In vitro fertilization (IVF) - involves extracting a woman's eggs, fertilizing the eggs in the laboratory with sperm, and then transferring the resulting embryo(s) into the woman's uterus through the cervix (embryo transfer) where it can develop. Most couples transfer two embryos; however, more may be transferred in certain cases. IVF is the most common form of ART and it is often the treatment of choice for a woman with blocked, severely damaged, or absent fallopian tubes. IVF is also used for infertility caused by endometriosis or male factor infertility. IVF is sometimes used to treat couples with long-term unexplained infertility who have not been able to conceive with other infertility treatments.
    • Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) - a procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg; this procedure is most commonly used to help with male factor infertility problems.
    • Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) - involves using a fiber-optic instrument called a laparoscope to guide the transfer of unfertilized eggs and sperm into the woman's fallopian tubes through small incisions in her abdomen. GIFT is only used in women with healthy fallopian tubes.
    • Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) - involves fertilizing a woman's eggs in the laboratory and then using a laparoscope to guide the transfer of the fertilized eggs (zygotes) into her fallopian tubes. ZIFT is only used in women with healthy fallopian tubes.
    • Donor eggs - involves an embryo formed from the egg of one woman (the donor) being transferred to another woman who is unable to conceive with her own eggs (the recipient). The donor relinquishes all parental rights to any resulting offspring. ART using donor eggs is much more common among older women than among younger women. The likelihood of a fertilized egg implanting is related to the age of the woman who produced the egg. Egg donors are typically in their 20s or early 30s.
    • Embryo cryopreservation - a procedure in which embryos are preserved through freezing (cryopreservation) for transfer at a later date. This procedure is often used when an IVF cycle produces more embryos than can be transferred at one time. The remaining embryos can be transferred in a future cycle if the woman does not become pregnant.