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Infertility
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What is infertility? Infertility is usually defined as not being able to get pregnant despite trying for 1 year. It is a problem for 1 of every 6 couples. It can be caused by problems in a man's or woman's reproductive system. How does it occur? Often the reason a woman is infertile is that she is not ovulating, meaning she is not releasing eggs from her ovaries. Things that may affect the release of eggs are your age, hormone imbalance, weight problems, stress, abuse of alcohol or drugs, chronic illness (such as diabetes), certain tumors or gland problems, and some medicines. Ovulation can also be affected by intense exercise, such as long-distance running. An abnormal or damaged uterus or fallopian tube can also cause infertility. For example, these organs may be damaged by an infection, a birth defect, or surgery. Problems with the cervix, which is the opening to the uterus, can also be a cause. In rare cases, a woman's body is allergic to sperm and destroys it. For a man, the most common reason for infertility is that he makes too few sperm or no sperm at all. There are many possible causes for this, such as infection, being around certain chemicals, abuse of drugs or alcohol, or medical problems. It can even be caused by wearing tight underwear or sitting in hot tubs too long or often. Sometimes the sperm are abnormal. That is, they are malformed and do not swim well or their lifespan is too short. How is it diagnosed? Your healthcare provider may do a variety of tests to find the problem. You may learn how to take and chart the woman's body temperature each morning. A woman's temperature rises each month after an egg is released. The chart helps check for ovulation. How is it treated? If a problem causing infertility is found, your provider may be able to recommend treatment for it. Treatment may include medicine, such as hormones or antibiotics, or surgery. Sometimes a combination of treatments for both the man and the woman is necessary. Women may need to take drugs to stimulate ovulation. Sometimes with this treatment you may become pregnant with more than 1 baby. Men may need to avoid long, hot showers and frequent use of hot tubs and saunas. High temperatures can reduce the sperm count. It also may help to wear boxer shorts rather than tight underwear. If a man's sperm count is low, artificial insemination may be an option. For this procedure, his semen is collected at several different times and stored until there are enough sperm. The semen is then placed in his partner's uterus or fallopian tubes during the most fertile time of her menstrual cycle. This procedure has varying success. Another choice is to use sperm donated by another man. In vitro fertilization is another option. In this procedure eggs are removed from the woman's body and fertilized with sperm in the lab. The fertilized eggs are then put into the uterus or fallopian tubes. This procedure may be done if the sperm count is low or the fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged. In vitro fertilization is expensive and success rates are often low. When it succeeds, you may become pregnant with more than 1 baby at a time. Looking for and treating causes of infertility can be stressful for a couple. It can put unusual strain on your relationship. Consider getting counseling to help you through difficult times.  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a
replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File FMY4323F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.
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