|
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes infertility?
Female infertility can be caused by many
different things. Some of these include blocked
fallopian tubes, endometriosis, endocrine and hormonal
disorders, loss of ovarian function, scar tissue from previous
surgeries or infections, prior treatment for certain kinds of
cancer, some medications, and increasing age of the
woman. Click here for more in-depth information on the causes
of female infertility.
Male infertility is
often caused by low
sperm count, poor sperm motility or quality, or obstructions. These
can be due to abnormal hormonal function, dilatation of veins
leading to the testes, prior vasectomy, blockage of the
ejaculatory duct, vas deferens or epididymus, or antisperm
antibiodies. Lifestyle factors also come into play, most
notably smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. FSAC
offers testing and treatment for male infertility.
Back to
top
When should we seek treatment for
infertility?
If you are a healthy
couple and have been trying to conceive for one year without
success, an infertility evaluation is recommended. If a
woman is over thirty years of age, has irregular periods or a
medical history that includes painful periods, miscarriage,
endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids,
or ovarian cysts then it is advisable to consult with a
physician sooner.
Back to
top
What should we expect if we go forward
with infertility treatment?
Infertility treatment requires a commitment on
the part of the couple. The initial evaluation can
take up to two months, perhaps longer, and some of the procedures can be physically
uncomfortable and expensive. Some couples
feel frustrated due to the lack of control over the situation
and the loss of personal privacy. You may be more
emotional than usual during treatment. It is important to realize that
the workup and treatment will take time. Patience is
necessary, and it important to keep things in perspective and
seek out emotional support when you need it.
FSAC offers a Patient Liason Network to
connect couples who are seeking additional support. FSAC
also offers consultation with psychologists who specialize
in working with infertile couples. Our goal is to ensure our
patients are receiving the most successful and supportive
treatment available.
Back to
top
What is the timeline for testing and
treatment?
We can get most patients in for an initial
evaluation within a few weeks of their first call to our
office. If you have had testing done elsewhere, the more
information you can bring to your first visit the better in
terms of moving the process along. Each case is different
but, in general, the initial infertility workup can be
completed within two months. Once we know what we're dealing
with, we discuss treatment options. The goal is an
uneventful pregnancy resulting in the delivery of a healthy baby.
This can take from a few months to years, depending
on the situation. Of course, not every treatment plan
results in pregnancy. The couple and the doctor monitor
the progress throughout treatment and make decisions along the
way about how long
attempts at pregnancy should continue.
Back to
top
How likely is it that I'll conceive?
One of our most important goals
is to carefully and honestly evaluate each woman's probability
of becoming pregnant. The chances of success vary widely
depending upon the age and general health of the couple, the quality of the sperm and
eggs, and a variety of other factors.
Recent advances in
medical technology have made it more likely than ever before
for couples
with infertility problems to conceive. There is no
guarantee that the cause of a couple's infertility can be
found, or that treatment will be successful.
However, we will evaluate and treat your unique situation with
compassion and use the latest medical information and
technology so that you will have the best chance possible of
having a baby. Click here to review our success
rate statistics, which we are happy to report are among
the best in the country.
Back to
top
I'm over
forty. Should we even try at this stage?
While the changes of pregnancy go down as
a woman ages, many patients over forty are able to
conceive and deliver healthy babies. Somewhat more
advanced techniques may be required and special testing may be
recommended to ensure the health of the baby. So if you want a
baby then, yes, it is well worth making the effort - even after
age forty.
Back to
top
What
do we do if we can’t find a cause for our infertility
problem?
We have made significant
advances in recent years in understanding human
reproduction, but we are not yet at the point where we can
pinpoint the reason for every case of infertility. For some couples,
even after a complete medical evaluation, the cause of their
infertility remains unknown. Infertility may be
diagnosed as "unexplainable" if a woman ovulates and
has no anatomic abnormalities in the reproductive tract, her
partner has normal sperm counts, and the couple has not been
able to conceive for at least a year, despite efforts to
become pregnant through the usual means.
Even when there is no specific cause
identified, certain treatments that may be recommended in an
effort to improve a couple's chances of conceiving. If you
have unexplained infertility your doctor will discuss the
options with you. In many cases, couples with
no known cause of infertility will eventually conceive, with
or without medical intervention. Some couples who do not
conceive after treatment choose to look into
adoption or surrogacy.
Back to
top
 See
also: |
|
|
|
