In the United States, 10 to 15 percent of couple are struggling with reproductive infertility, according to MayoClinic.com. Uterine problems and ovulation disorders are common factors that contribute to female infertility. Poor sperm quantity and...
Andropause in men is similar to menopause in women. Older men show a progressive decline in circulating hormones such as testosterone. This change produces symptoms ranging from reproductive infertility to sexual dysfunction. A variety of...
Infertility patients often start treatment with their obstetrician or gynecologist but move on to treatment by doctors with a specific interest in infertility. These doctors are usually, but not always, doctors with a background in OB/GYN...
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) helps couples overcome infertility challenges. However, assisted reproductive technologies do not overcome every barrier. According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), women under...
Infertility can be very distressing for a couple attempting to conceive and have a child. The causes of infertility are numerous, and they each are treated in different ways.
Androgen excess is an endocrine disorder that is sometimes found in women during their reproductive years. While everyone has a combination of male and female hormones, women have more estrogen, and men have more androgen. However, certain...
Fertility testing can help your doctor determine why you and your partner are unable to conceive a child. Fertility problems can occur in the male, female, or both partners can have problems that make conception difficult. Testing involves...
Reproductive health involves the condition of your reproductive organs and the ability to produce healthy offspring. The gonads (testes and ovaries), outer genitals, breasts, sex hormones, semen and vaginal fluid make up the reproductive system,...
Vaginal burning can be caused by infection, irritation from chemicals, vaginitis, contraceptive jellies and foams, and synthetic underwear. Vaginal burning related to infection may be accompanied by redness, soreness, itching and discharge,...
Your first step in finding a fertility doctor, or reproductive endocrinologist, is probably through your gynecologist. He will give you names of doctors he's worked with in the past, and once you have made your decision, he will forward your...
When you are asked to serve as a surrogate mother for a family member, it is usually because your relative is unable to produce healthy eggs, or has a malformed or missing uterus. If you are asked to be a surrogate mother, follow many of the same...
Soy Isoflavones are natural compounds that are considered phytoestrogens, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Natural food sources of soy isoflavones are soy beans, legumes and certain vegetables. Research shows...
Polycystic ovary disease, also known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a condition in which the the ovaries may be enlarged and contain numerous small cysts located along the outer edge of each ovary. It is the most common hormonal disorder among...
A traditional surrogate mother uses her own egg to carry and give birth to a child for another couple. The services of a surrogate are typically needed because of the woman's infertility or other reproductive-related issues. A woman who desires to...
According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, men and women are affected equally by infertility. Male fertility depends on the presence of healthy sperm and the ability of the male reproductive system to effectively ejaculate sperm...
Fertility is complex for both men and women. A lot of components must align for a man to impregnate a woman. A number of things can disrupt this alignment, leading to issues with fertility. Health problems and medical treatments are known to cause...
It's not uncommon for women trying to conceive to wonder whether exercising may hinder their chances of conception, particularly if they've been trying for a long time. But exercise probably won't impair your ability to get pregnant. Exercise...
Birth defects are abnormalities present at the time of a baby's birth. They occur in approximately 3 percent of pregnancies. When some part of the baby's body did not form correctly or completely, this is a structural birth defect. For example,...
All women between 40 and 49 years old should have a mammogram every one to two years. Since the chance of developing breast cancer rises as a woman gets older, women aged 50 to 70 should have a mammogram every year. Though yearly mammograms may...
A hormone specialist is also known as an endocrinologist. Hormone specialists study the endocrine glands and hormones, and certain diseases of the endocrine glands. Some even perform surgery. According to the Hormone Foundation, endocrinologists...
A woman's fertility is affected by a number of factors: stress, nicotine, alcohol, poor diet, athletic training, weight, hormonal imbalances, sexually transmitted disease, or anatomical problems with the reproductive system. While there are a...
Ovarian cysts are sacs of fluid that develop in or on the ovary. These cysts usually cause no symptoms and go away within two or three menstrual cycles. However, large cysts or cysts that do not go away may cause symptoms that affect the...
Ibuprofen is one of several medications classified as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). These drugs work by reducing your body's production of inflammatory elements called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins have important actions on the...
Hypothyroidism refers to when the thyroid gland, which is responsible for producing hormones that control growth and metabolism, is underactive. Women develop hypothyroidism more often than men; the risk of hypothyroidism increases as people age...
Bottled water is not necessarily cleaner than tap water in the U.S. Studies have found that bottled water may contain harmful pollutants. According to the Environmental Work Group, bottled water companies promote images of purity, but...
Up to one half of sexually active couples use some kind of vaginal lubricant during intercourse. It is a common misconception that lubricants not containing spermicide are okay to use in couples that are trying to conceive. Unfortunately, there...
Infertility is an inability to get pregnant after six months to a year of trying. Women who have repeated miscarriages may also be infertile. Motherwort, or Leonurus cardiaca, is a traditional herbal remedy that can be used to help support the...
If you have an endometrial biopsy, your gynecologist will take a sample of tissue from your endometrium, which is the lining of your uterus. The sample is then sent to a pathologist who will study it under a microscope. Endometrial biopsy is an...
Having a baby seems like it should be the easiest thing in the world, but many couples find it difficult to conceive. Part of the problem may be sperm count. Even if you have had children before, your sperm count can decrease over time. A semen...
Infertility, the inability to contribute to conception, can result from any number of causes. Learn more about infertility in this reproductive health video.
