Infertility in Females !

You Are Not Alone

In the United States, approximately 10-15% of women between the ages 15 – 44 have difficulty conceiving or carrying a baby to term. This equates to about 6.1 million women who want to become pregnant, but face the obstacle of infertility.

Risk factors include age, as women generally become less fertile after the mid-30s. Extreme overweight or underweight patients may also suffer from infertility. Smoking, alcohol and caffeine use are known to impair fertility. Stress can also be a factor.

There are various medical conditions to consider, as well, that can affect a woman’s ability to reproduce. These disorders include:

  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Endometriosis
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Premature ovarian failure
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Issues with ovulation, including hormones involved with ovulation
  • Irregular ovulation
  • Blocked fallopian tubes
  • Structural problems in the reproductive system
  • Problems with the quality of cervical mucus
  • Problems with the quality of eggs
  • Infrequent or absent menstrual cycles
  • Elevated Prolactin levels
  • Congenital structural abnormalities

Steps in the Fertility Journey

If you are struggling with fertility, we invite you to come in for a consultation. Advanced Fertility Centers of West Texas uses all the technology available to determine what is wrong and implement a treatment plan. Your evaluation will include laboratory tests to help pinpoint the cause of infertility. These tests will also help your doctor monitor your treatments.

  • We test your blood to measure prolactin levels and thyroid function, which may indirectly affect fertility.
  • We study your hormone levels through blood and urine tests.
  • We examine the number of follicles and quality of your eggs through hormonal tests, including a Clomiphene Challenge Test, for ovarian reserve. This is especially important for older women.
  • We look for high FSH and high estrogen levels on the third day of your cycle, which can predict less success in fertility treatments in older women.
  • We look for high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and low estrogen levels, which suggest premature ovarian failure.
  • We look for high LH and low FSH, which may suggest polycystic ovary syndrome or luteal phase defect.
  • We look for LH surges, which indicate ovulation.
  • We may take tissue samples.

Imaging and Diagnostics

If these initial fertility tests are normal, we will pursue more extensive testing to reveal abnormal tubal and uterine problems. This includes:

  • Ultrasound
  • Saline-infusion sonohysterography
  • Hysterosalpingography
  • Hysteroscopy
  • Laparoscopy

Male Factor Infertility

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the oldest Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) procedure and still the most frequently used. The term “in vitro” refers to fertilization outside the body. Originally designed to bypass damaged fallopian tubes, new applications for IVF quickly developed for male factor infertility, endometriosis, unexplained infertility and other conditions. For most reproductive issues, research has clearly demonstrated that IVF, and its variations, hold the greatest promise of successful pregnancy per month, more than any other intervention.

Much of this success is due to the acceleration of what occurs in natural conception. Couples with normal fertility do not conceive every month but will conceive when the “right” egg is produced. With IVF, many more eggs can usually be produced in one month, which increases the chance that one or more of them are normal. Further, assisted insemination and confirmation of fertilization are significant achievements only available with in vitro observation. The advantage of these processes is reflected in live birth rates at Advanced Fertility Centers of West Texas at 50% per completed IVF cycle for women 37 years of age or younger. A routine IVF cycle of treatment consists of daily fertility medications, injection to trigger egg maturation, egg retrieval, insemination, and culture of resulting embryos, and finally, transfer of the most developed embryos into the woman’s uterus. Pregnancy testing is completed less than 2 weeks later, so the entire process is similar in length to one natural menstrual cycle.

Many couples are appropriately concerned about the cost of IVF technologies. Much of the apprehension seems to arise from information found on the internet, rather than for a specific couple. IVF costs vary depending on a patient’s particular needs and will best be determined after the initial appointment when all of your medical records and testing have been reviewed and discussed. In Vitro Fertilization may not be right for every couple, but rest assured that honest counseling at Advanced Fertility Centers of West Texas will provide patients with all viable options. Should patients decide IVF is right for them, the staff will happily discuss how costs are lower at Advanced Fertility Centers of West Texas in comparison to the national average. There are many advantages to receiving fertility care in a smaller community.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) allows sperm, prepared from a semen sample, to be introduced into the uterus through the cervix using a thin plastic catheter. By preparing the semen sample, sperm can be concentrated. The concentrated sperm is placed into the upper uterine cavity, increasing the number of viable sperm that reach the end of the fallopian tubes and the eggs. While it is not believed to enhance how the sperm fertilize, it may increase the chance of fertilization by increasing the interaction between the capable sperm and the egg.

IUI is commonly used for mild male fertility factors and for unexplained infertility. Testing for male infertility has advanced recently allowing a better prediction of success with various treatments. Notably, IUI used alone has not been shown to be effective for most cases of infertility. Therefore, IUI is most often used in combination with fertility medications that increase the number of eggs available for fertilization. More severe cases of male infertility and combinations of fertility problems will be best served by in vitro fertilization (IVF).