FAQs

Infertility is a disease or condition of the reproductive system that is often diagnosed after a couple has had one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse, or if the woman has suffered from multiple miscarriages and the woman is under 35 years of age. If the woman is over 35 years old, it is diagnosed (or should be!) after 6 months of unprotected, well-timed intercourse.

This is not just a one-sided problem. Approximately, 30% of infertility is due to a female factor and 30% is due to a malefactor. In the balance of the cases, infertility also can result from problems in both partners and often the outlying cause of infertility cannot be explained. In this case, it is known as an “unexplained infertility” diagnosis. All of which, equally frustrating.

There may be a number of external factors, lifestyle choices and environmental causes that can attribute to an infertility diagnosis. Some risk factors can be gender specific. Here’s a brief snapshot of some of the more common risk factors.

• Weight
• Age
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
• Tubal Disease
• Endometriosis
• DES Exposure

In vitro fertilization or for acronym-y purposes, IVF gets its name from the fact that fertilization occurs outside of the woman’s body, in a lab dish instead of a woman’s fallopian tubes. Typically, a woman will use ovulation-stimulating drugs to produce an excess number of eggs. These eggs or “follicles”, are surgically removed from the woman and fertilized in the dish with sperm. If fertilization takes place, the physician transfers the embryo(s) into the women’s uterus.

Problems with ovulation account for most cases of infertility in women. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.

The purpose of ICSI is to assist the fertilization process when a man’s sperm count is abnormal. Whether it is because the number of motile sperm is very low or the morphology is excessively poor, the technique involves the delivery of a single sperm into a single egg. Since 1991, when it was first described, it has revolutionized the treatment of male infertility. Most clinics will recommend ICSI if there is a fear that poor fertilization may occur by traditional IVF where sperm are merely added to the egg culture dish. Accordingly, efforts are made to assess sperm by function or morphology to help determine those most likely to require ICSI. It is best to discuss this option with your clinic personnel prior to treatment.

The time between the first day of a menstrual period and the beginning of the next one is referred to as a menstrual cycle. Usually, a typical cycle lasts for 28 days. However, this differs from person to person and can last anywhere between 22 and 45 days.

Majority of females have very limited or no knowledge about menstruation and the importance of personal hygiene while menstruating. Maintaining adequate hygiene during menses is necessary to stay away from infections as well as for general comfort and easy mobility.

Due to this lack of knowledge, many women follow very unsafe practices such as using coir and unsanitary cloth pads during their menses.