8 Things That Can Contribute to Infertility

Infertility is a rising concern among men and women. Various factors contribute to infertility, including a woman's age, reproductive issues, and lifestyle factors.

Struggling to get pregnant is heartbreaking and exhausting, especially when you don't have any answers. At New England Women's Healthcare in Woburn, Wilmington, and Wakefield, Massachusetts, our team of specialized OB/GYN doctors provides infertility evaluations and treatments to help you achieve pregnancy sooner.

The facts on infertility

Infertility is a term that we use when a couple has been attempting to conceive through regular intercourse for at least a year without success. For women over 35, we consider infertility after trying to conceive for at least six months.

Both women and men can have infertility. Various factors contribute to trouble conceiving, and it can be due to issues in just the woman, just the man, or both.

But infertility isn't just the inability to get pregnant – it also encompasses women who can't carry a pregnancy to term or one that results in a stillbirth.

Infertility is becoming a more common issue, affecting one in six adults. We can treat many causes of infertility, but sometimes the cause is unknown.

Eight causes of infertility

Various factors play into an infertility diagnosis for men and women. It's essential to understand your body to determine what you can and cannot change regarding fertility. Some of the major contributors to infertility include the following:

1. Age

Age plays a factor in infertility for men and women, but it's more of a factor in women. After 35, women experience a natural decline in fertility that continues to decline after 40. Men also experience a decrease in fertility, although it happens much more slowly.

2. Lifestyle factors

Lifestyle factors are a major contributor to infertility. Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and being over- or underweight can contribute to male and female infertility.

3. Medical conditions

Chronic medical conditions can impact fertility. Issues like diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and thyroid problems can all cause infertility in women.

4. Endometriosis

Endometriosis is another major factor in infertility in women. The condition causes endometrial-like tissue to occur outside of the uterus, causing scarring of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, leading to infertility.

5. Environmental factors

Exposure to chemicals and external factors can negatively impact fertility. Women can come into contact with chemicals through everyday products and outdoor pesticides.

6. Stress

Infertility is stressful, which only fuels the problem. Stressing over infertility or other life issues can lead to infertility problems in women and men.

7. Uterine problems

Uterine problems, such as fibroids or polyps, can lead to implantation problems in women. Changes in the uterine lining can also affect fertility and ovulation.

8. Ovulation disorders

An egg and sperm must come together for pregnancy to occur. If a woman has an ovulation problem, infertility occurs. Common ovulation problems arise from PCOS, causing absent or irregular ovulation.

Professional treatments can help

Struggling with infertility alone is a tough road, but you don't have to give up. We offer specialized evaluations and individual treatments to increase your chances of pregnancy.

Before we offer treatment, we order lab tests and a transvaginal ultrasound to look for any obvious causes of infertility. We evaluate for hormone imbalances and check the lining of the uterus and follicle count on the ovaries.

If everything appears to be okay, we may order additional testing for you and your significant other. Once we get results back, we offer various infertility treatments including timed intercourse, ovulation enhancement medications, and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

When other treatments fail or you have a significant issue that medications and IUI can't treat, we recommend in vitro fertilization (IVF). Our team is with you throughout the process and provides guidance and resources to help you through the infertility process.

Contact your nearest New England Women's Healthcare office to discuss infertility treatments with our team, or schedule an appointment online.