The frustration and sadness of not being able to start a family of your own can be emotionally overwhelming. Genetics, lifestyle, and age can affect a couple’s ability to become pregnant.
At Reproductive Fertility Center, our team's primary focus is helping you achieve your family goals. Understanding what could be the cause of your inability to conceive and learning what options are available can help reduce some of the stress.
Fertility Testing
Before deciding which option will help you and your partner conceive, the first step is fertility testing. It is best for a couple under age 30 to see a fertility specialist if they have not been successful after a year of attempting to become pregnant, and if they are over age 30, they should see a specialist after six months without a successful pregnancy. Both partners should meet with a specialist to identify any issues contributing to the difficulty of conceiving.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Many couples who have difficulties conceiving choose to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF), a process that involves extracting a woman’s eggs, fertilizing the eggs with her partner’s or donor sperm outside the body, and implanting the resulting embryo into the uterus. Women under 35 years of age are more likely to have a successful outcome using their own eggs during an IVF cycle. However, women who are over 35 years of age may have a decreased ovarian reserve, and it may be recommended to seek an egg donor for their IVF treatment.
Egg Donor
Women of any age may experience a diminished ovarian reserve that can impact their ability to conceive naturally. Egg donation is recommended if a woman is unable to produce healthy eggs, regardless of the underlying reason. While making the decision to use an egg donor can be difficult, it can significantly improve a woman's chances of conception.
Testicular Sperm Extraction
Sometimes, difficulty getting pregnant is due to a problem with the male partner’s fertility. This could be caused by things like a low sperm count or trouble ejaculating. In these cases, a procedure called testicular sperm extraction (TESE), may help. TESE is a simple procedure where a doctor carefully removes sperm directly from the testicles—kind of like a small biopsy. This sperm is then used in a special treatment called ICSI, where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. Once the egg is fertilized and becomes an embryo, it can be placed into the woman’s uterus during IVF. It’s one more way we can help hopeful parents build their families, even when male infertility is a factor.
