Causes of Infertility
There are many causes of infertility. Establishing a diagnosis is the first step towards developing a treatment plan and helping you grow your family.
Request an AppointmentFemale Infertility
Studies show that up to 40% of cases of couples struggling to conceive are related to female infertility, which can be caused by a variety of conditions or health factors. Common reasons for female infertility include:
Ovulation disorders
Roughly 25% of all infertile women have issues with ovulation. There are many reasons why a person may not ovulate regularly, many of which are treatable through lifestyle changes or fertility treatment.
Tubal disease
Tubal disease is a disorder in which the Fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged. Usually caused by a history of infection, surgery, or endometriosis.
Ectopic pregnancy
1 in 80 pregnancies is considered to be ectopic pregnancies, a phenomenon that occurs when a pregnancy is established outside of the uterus such as in the Fallopian tubes.
Diminished ovarian reserve
Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) indicates that there are fewer eggs in a woman’s ovaries compared with other women of similar age or that her eggs are of poor quality, both of which can result in infertility.
Age
A woman’s fertility starts to decline gradually after age 30, and more dramatically as she gets into her late 30s. As a woman ages, the chance of genetic mutations and/or fetal abnormalities also increases. Treatment may include testing each embryo to determine whether all of its chromosomes are normal.
PCOS
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately 10% of women in their childbearing years. Treatment may include medication, lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, and/or IVF.
Endometriosis
Approximately 35 to 50% of women with infertility also have endometriosis. Treatment may include surgery or IVF.
Hyperprolactinemia
Hyperprolactinemia is a disorder in which the pituitary gland produces excessive amounts of the hormone prolactin, which stimulates milk production.
Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are firm, noncancerous growths that can develop on the inner or outer wall of a woman’s uterus
Recurrent pregnancy loss
We offer specialized assistance to those faced with the heartache of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Defined as having two or more miscarriages, recurrent pregnancy loss can be caused by many things, with the risk going up with age.
Causes of Male Infertility
Infertility does not affect only women — millions of men suffer as well. In fact, new studies show that in approximately 40 percent of couples dealing with infertility, the male partner is either the sole cause or a contributing cause of infertility. Difficulties range from issues with sperm production to obstruction of sperm delivery.
Sperm Health
As fertility treatment has become more focused on the cellular level, important differences in sperm cells have become recognized as crucial to fertility.
Low Sperm Count
In terms of the male’s role, conception really is a game of numbers. Fundamentally, the more sperm cells a man produces, the greater the likelihood that one of the billions will hit their target – the egg cell.
Other Causes of Infertility
Secondary Infertility is the inability to become pregnant — despite engaging in regular unprotected intercourse — following the birth of one or more biological children who were born without the aid of fertility treatment or medications.
Unexplained infertility is the failure to determine a cause of infertility after a thorough evaluation of both the male and female partners. Approximately 10 percent of infertility is unexplained.
Get Tested
Fertility testing is the first step in establishing an infertility diagnosis.
Fertility Testing
