Infertility is defined as having unprotected sex for one year or more and failing to become pregnant. While it can impact women of all ages, women aged 35 and older often experience issues with conception due to the natural decline of fertility that occurs.
While infertility can be challenging, there is hope for many women. Modern treatments can greatly improve the chance of conception and enable women to start families as they wish.
Human reproduction is a complex process, and issues can occur at each step that decrease the chance of conception. In some instances, reproductive issues are linked to medical disorders and diseases:
For some women, infertility has no underlying cause. For others, reproductive problems may result from certain risk factors.
Women may also encounter issues with reproduction due to the following risk factors:
Fortunately, the risk factors associated with infertility can often be addressed with lifestyle changes.
There are certain things women can do to increase their chance of becoming pregnant. This includes avoiding cigarettes and alcohol, mitigating stress, and maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise. If conception is still not successful, doctors may suggest the following treatments:
Fertility drugs can stimulate ovulation by mimicking natural hormones. They can also address things like insulin resistance and abnormal production of certain hormones that may impede ovulation.
While rare, doctors may also recommend surgery as a treatment for infertility. Surgeries can be used to remove fibroids or clear obstructed fallopian tubes. In some cases, surgery is combined with other infertility treatments.
IVF is often recommended to people who experience infertility due to endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and damage to fallopian tubes. It can also benefit women who are unable to conceive due to no identifiable medical cause.