Couples who experience infertility are trying to get pregnant but are experiencing reproductive system impairment situations that prevent them from conceiving a child. Infertility is a common problem facing approximately 6.1 million individuals in the U.S. alone. The diagnosis of infertility is usually reserved for those who have been trying to conceive for at least one entire year and failing to conceive.

There are many factors that are part of the conception achievement and any one or multiple factors can cause infertility. Conception and successful pregnancy depend on many factors including that the male has an adequate production of healthy sperm, that the woman has healthy eggs (ovum), that her fallopian tubes are not blocked, that the sperm are able to fertilize an egg (ova), the fertilized conception product is able to become implanted into the woman’s uterus, and also that there is sufficient quality of embryonic substance. In order to sustain the pregnancy the embryo must be healthy, implant correctly and in the uterus, and also the woman’s hormonal environment must be sufficient for the embryo to survive and grow. Infertility can result from just one of the above factors being incompatible with conception or continued pregnancy and many couples have multiple factors affecting their infertility.

Infertility can be a woman’s problem; a man’s problem or it can result from both the woman and the man having problems with the reproductive system. Unknown causes occur in approximately 20% of couples experiencing infertility.

The most common cause for male infertility is that no sperm are produced or that too few sperm cells are produced greatly reducing the chance for conception. Rarely, the infertility issue for men results from genetic disease such as chromosomal abnormality or from cystic fibrosis.

The most common cause for female infertility is ovulation disorder, or blocked fallopian tubes. Women who experience repeated miscarriages and who fail to maintain a pregnancy may have uterine anomalies or uterine fibroids. Older women (over age 35) also experience infertility due to poor quality of eggs.

If a woman is younger than 35 and has been trying to conceive (TTC) for 12 months unsuccessfully she should be tested for infertility. If a woman is older than 35 and has been unsuccessful at conceiving after 6 months of trying she should be tested for infertility.

After a year of not being able to conceive (or 6 months if the woman is older than 35), a doctor can examine the man and woman to ascertain where the infertility factors may be. This examination process also determines the general health of the couple, may show any physical disorders that may be contributing to the infertility and may also include sexual habit interviews. These interviews access the process of intercourse to determine if the sexual habits are compatible with the process of conception.

Testing may be done to determine the quality and quantity of sperm and the condition of the fallopian tubes, and uterus. Other analysis which may be undertaken in the bid to determine the cause for infertility may also include ovulation testing, x-ray of the fallopian tubes and uterus, laparoscopy.

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