Not every attempt to conceive succeeds right away, and many people — specifically around 13% of women in the U.S. — face significant challenges. The situation is also complicated by waiting longer to start a family.
Ultimately, infertility happens for several reasons, and isn’t always a long-term problem. But if you’re struggling to get pregnant, we can help. Drs. Michelle Hakimian, Kate Nash, Matthew King, and our medical staff at Progressive Care For Women, S.C., assist Chicago-area women with many pregnancy issues, including infertility.
Let’s review the definition and causes of infertility, when you should seek help, and available treatment options.
While having trouble getting pregnant for a few weeks or months can be normal, infertility is generally diagnosed after a year of trying and failing to conceive. If you’re over 35, doctors diagnose infertility after six months. Infertility also includes women who get pregnant but can’t carry the child to term.
Infertility stems from several causes, which include:
Ovulation disorders, hormonal imbalances, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, and premature ovarian failure all increase the chances of infertility. Scarring from prior reproductive system surgeries can also cause issues, along with obesity and complications from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Conceiving becomes harder as you get older, but habits like alcohol abuse and smoking also make the prospect of a successful pregnancy harder.
Some drugs also affect reproduction, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), recreational use of drugs like cocaine and cannabis, and antipsychotic drugs.
While some couples wait a full year before getting medical help, the timeline of when you should seek it varies. If you’re dealing with other issues, like irregular or absent menstrual cycles, a history of pelvic infections, scar tissue (adhesions), or if you’ve had an ectopic pregnancy or reversed a tubal ligation, you should get help sooner.
Also, miscarriages don’t automatically indicate infertility, but if you’ve had one or more, please bring it to our attention during your appointment with us.
To increase your chances of conceiving, several options can help, depending on your unique needs:
Infertility complicates the desire to have children, but treatments exist to help you grow your family. Schedule an appointment with Drs. Hakimian, Nash, King, and the Progressive Care for Women, S.C. team today to explore your options.
