Infertility
Overview
What is Infertility?
Infertility is the inability to conceive after you’ve had frequent, unprotected sex for a period of 12 months. There are many causes for infertility, that’s why if you’re having difficulty conceiving you should see your doctor. Women over 35 should see their doctors after six months of attempting pregnancy as age may be playing a role in their ability to conceive. Since infertility affects both you and your partner, you should seek care together. Many factors can impact your ability to conceive, that’s why your St. John’s Physician Partners OB/GYN can help you identify the potential causes and recommend treatments to evaluate and manage these problems. There are many safe and effective therapies that can significantly improve your chances of getting pregnant and we’re here to help.
When you see your St. John’s Physician Partners OB/GYN for a fertility problem, you can rest assured that the doctor will work with you to diagnose the problem and to develop a treatment plan that will be most effective and works best for you and your partner.
Female Infertility Causes
- Ovulation disorders
- Thyroid imbalance
- Fibroids, polyps or structural abnormalities in the uterine lining
- Blockage of fallopian tubes
- Endometriosis
- Congenital anomalies
- Age
- Lifestyle
Male Infertility Causes
- Low sperm count, abnormal semen or low sperm mobility
- History of testicular, prostate or sexual problems
- Small testicles, testicular infections and overheating of testicles
- Ejaculation disorders
- Testosterone deficiencies
- Medications and therapies
- Chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Family history of infertility
- Lifestyle
Diagnosis
Infertility Diagnosis
Both you and your partner need to be seen and evaluated by your doctor.  Your doctor will perform a physical or pelvic examination, review your medical and sexual history and perform blood tests including testing for thyroid function and other hormonal tests; and they might suggest a test to determine if there is blockage in your fallopian tubes or structural abnormality in your uterus that may be impacting your fertility.
At St. John’s Physician Partners, your OB/GYN will conduct a complete medical assessment, including:
- A physical or pelvic exam to assess reproductive anatomy
- A review of both partners’ medical and sexual history
- Blood tests to evaluate hormone levels, including thyroid function and reproductive hormones such as FSH, LH, and prolactin
- Ultrasound imaging to check for uterine fibroids, polyps, or abnormalities in the uterine lining
- A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) — an X-ray test that checks whether the fallopian tubes are open and if there are any structural abnormalities in the uterus
- Semen analysis for the male partner to assess sperm count, motility, and morphology (often conducted in collaboration with Men’s Health – Family Planning)
These exams and tests allow your provider to develop a personalized diagnosis and recommend the most effective next steps in your fertility journey.
Treatments
Infertility Treatment Options
Medical Fertility Treatments
- Ovulation-inducing medications such as clomiphene citrate or letrozole
- Hormonal therapies to balance conditions like thyroid dysfunction or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Lifestyle counseling to address weight, stress, or nutrition that may affect fertility
Surgical & Advanced Procedures
- Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery to treat conditions like fibroids or endometriosis
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI) to place sperm directly into the uterus
- In vitro fertilization (IVF), which involves combining eggs and sperm in a lab and transferring embryos to the uterus
- Referral to a reproductive endocrinologist for advanced assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
Specialists
