Generally, infertility is defined as an inability to conceive within 12 months of unprotected intercourse.  Women 35 and older are diagnosed with infertility after 6 months of actively trying. Infertility can be primary (the couple has never had children) or secondary (the couple has been able to have children in the past but is now unable to conceive).

There are numerous problems that can cause infertility. In approximately 30% of cases, the problem is a related to the male partner.  In another 30% of cases, the problem is in the female reproductive system.  In another 30% of cases, there is a combination of both male and female factor infertility. The final 10% is unexplained infertility. 

Even when the cause for infertility is undetermined, many women are able to conceive. To determine the cause of your infertility, the Dr. Worley and Dr. Silva have you and your partner undergo a thorough evaluation.

Male factor infertility can be due to hormonal or lifestyle factors/exposures which affect sperm concentration (amount), motility (movement), or morphology (shape).  These can include certain endocrinologic conditions, medications, heat, chemicals, or tobacco/cannabis use.  Additionally there can be structural problems such as a varicocele (varicose vein of the testicle) or hydrocele (fluid filled cyst of the testicle).

• ovulation disorders:  irregular or absent ovulation typically caused by endocrine disorders, weight problems, or chronic stress 
• polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS):  a common endocrine condition that often prohibits ovulation
• diminished ovarian reserve (DOR):  when a woman’s egg supply diminishes due to age, genetics or damage
• blocked or damaged fallopian tubes:  prevents an egg from coming into contact with sperm, often due to endometriosis or a history of STDs
• endometriosis:  a condition where the endometrium (uterine lining) grows outside of the uterus causing chronic pain, inflammation, and infertility
• uterine irregularities:  includes congenital malformations, adhesions, fibroids, polyps, or chronic inflammation which cause infertility or recurrent miscarriage

During your initial visit with us, our team will meet with you to discuss many things related to you and your partner’s history. This will include your medical and surgical histories, any prior pregnancies either or both of you have had, gynecological history, menstrual history, and sexual history. They will also review things such as your current medications, allergies, prior vaccinations, and lifestyle habits. All of this will help them to determine what necessary fertility tests you both will need to undertake in order to find out why you are having difficulty conceiving.