Physicians for Women > Patient Education > FAQ - Infertility

Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system that affects the ability to conceive children. Conception is a complicated process that depends upon many factors including, the production of healthy sperm by the male, healthy eggs from the female, unblocked fallopian tubes that allow the sperm to reach the egg, the sperm's ability to fertilize the egg when they meet, the ability of the fertilized egg (embryo) to become implanted in the woman's uterus and sufficient embryo quality. For the pregnancy to continue to full term, the embryo must be healthy and the woman's hormonal environment adequate for its development. When even one of these factors is impaired, infertility can result.

We advise couples to seek medical help if they are unable to achieve pregnancy after a year of unprotected intercourse. The doctor will conduct a physical examination of both partners to determine their general state of health and to evaluate physical disorders that may be causing infertility. If no cause can be determined, specific tests may be recommended. For women, these include an analysis of body temperature and ovulation, blood tests, x-ray of the fallopian tubes and uterus and, possibly, laparoscopy. For men, initial tests focus on the semen analysis.

Most infertility cases are treated with conventional therapies, such as drug treatment or surgical repair of reproductive organs.

In the case of infertile couples where women have blocked or absent fallopian tubes or where men have low sperm counts, in vitro fertilization (IVF) offers an alternative resource to achieve parenthood.

In IVF, eggs are surgically removed from the ovary and mixed with sperm outside the body. Once the eggs have been fertilized, the embryos are then placed in the women's uterus, thus bypassing the fallopian tubes.