Breaking Ground: The Latest Innovations in Infertility Research

Lab technician conducting infertility research

Advances in Infertility Research

The first successful in vitro fertilization took place in 1977, and since then, technology has improved dramatically, leading to a wealth of cutting-edge infertility solutions. This is wonderful news for the millions of Americans affected by infertility struggles, which impact about 12 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44. While there is no easy fix for male or female infertility, advanced reproductive technologies are available to help improve couples’ chances. Here, we look at some of these advances in the field, and how they can help patients achieve pregnancy.

What is Involved in Infertility?

There are many factors that influence fertility, including age. About a third of people over age 35 struggle with infertility, and the risk of miscarriage increases with age. Lifestyle factors also play a role, and smoking, excessive alcohol, a poor diet, too much or too little exercise, and weight issues can all contribute to difficulty conceiving. Infertility can be caused by ovulation difficulties, uterine issues, blocked fallopian tubes, fibroids, low sperm count, low sperm quality, and other male factors. Male factors account for as much as 40 percent of fertility issues. There is no cure for infertility, but doctors can treat underlying problems and develop strategies to help overcome these problems, in order to help couples achieve pregnancy.

Innovative Fertility Treatments

Sometimes, pregnancy can be achieved through intrauterine insemination, a relatively simple fertility treatment in which sperm are inserted into the uterus, in conjunction with medication. Other infertility treatments may seem almost like science fiction.

• In vitro fertilization has become even more innovative. There have been many improvements to in vitro fertilization over the years. One such improvement is the development of ISCI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), one of the more revolutionary IVF techniques which allows an embryologist to inject a single, healthy sperm into the egg, instead of just exposing the egg to sperm. With healthy eggs, this method can be a much as 99 percent effective. Additionally, pre-implantation genetic screening and studies to determine if the embryo will be received by the endometrium can improve the chances of successful pregnancy.
• Letrozole is not used for infertility treatments. Used for breast cancer treatment in post-menopausal women, Letrozole inhibits estrogen production, affecting how the pituitary and hypothalamus function as relates to ovulation. This medication can help women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to conceive. If the pituitary gland is not functioning properly, it can cause the ovaries to stop releasing eggs or to release eggs that are not fully developed, and Letrozole addresses this issue.
• Gonadotropins are used to help women ovulate. These work with the pituitary gland, adjusting when ovulation occurs, to make sure the ovum is mature before it is released. Sometimes, Letrozole and gonadotropins are used together during in vitro fertilization.
• Clomid is another medication used to treat infertility. This also works with the pituitary gland, inducing ovulation in women who don’t develop an egg and improving the way ovaries respond to FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). This results in improved rates of live births.
• There are also groundbreaking vasectomy reversal procedures. While vasectomy reversal used to be minimally successful, the success rates are now as high as 80 to 90 percent, because of innovations in the surgical procedures. Now performed by microsurgeons, vasectomy reversals are more precise than ever before.

What Does the Future Hold?

As science continues to find more innovative ways to help people conceive, and research and development of infertility treatments continues to be one of the most rapidly developing parts of the health care industry, we can expect to see exciting developments going forward. As IVF improves and we gain further control, we will see fewer multiple births, and there will be more options for donor and surrogate reproductive options. Stem cell research continues to evolve, and there could be a time, perhaps even in our lifetime, when pluripotent cells can be developed from bone marrow or skin cells. As the science improves and research continues to find new innovative approaches to the problem, we may well reach a point at which infertility is a thing of the past, and couples who wish to conceive can do so without the difficulty and heartbreak so many experience today. By working with experienced doctors who are experienced in treating infertility, many couples are finding their way to overcoming fertility, even now.

Center for Vasectomy Reversal Cares About Men’s Health

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we stay up to date with the latest innovations in fertility treatment and work to create strategies that help our patients achieve healthy, successful pregnancies. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their health and fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Dr. Green and his team provide state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. Having had extensive training in urology, microsurgery, and vasectomy reversal, Dr. Green founded the Center for Vasectomy Reversal to provide the highest level of patient care while delivering optimal surgical results. To learn more about how our experienced team can help you reach your reproductive goals, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

Navigating Male Fertility Challenges as a Couple

Couple discussing fertility issues.

Infertility is a Shared Problem

About one in six couples globally struggles with infertility. While this is often considered a female issue, approximately 40 percent of infertility cases in the United States are connected with male infertility, making it, most definitely, a couple’s issue. While both partners experience emotional distress and relationship stress, the perceived social stigma regarding male infertility and, indeed, male emotional response to infertility, make it challenging for men to find support. Here, we offer advice for couples navigating male fertility challenges.

Men Have Feelings Too

Let’s just start by stating the obvious. Boys and men are conditioned by society to avoid vulnerability, hide their feelings, and be strong, no matter what, but that doesn’t mean their feelings don’t matter. Infertility and pregnancy loss are very painful experiences, and can deeply affect a person’s mental health. It can be hard to process this very private kind of trauma, but infertility is definitely painful. Feelings men experience as a result of infertility can include:

• A deep sense of loss and grief can accompany the knowledge of an inability to conceive a child.
• Guilt and shame can result from not living up to societal expectations of virility and fertility.
• Men sometimes experience a sense of inadequacy, feeling they’ve failed their partner.
• It can feel isolating to experience infertility, and men feeling the pressure to be strong and stoic may not feel able to ask for support.
• Anger and frustration are natural when dealing with infertility, especially because it’s easy to feel powerless when faced with failed attempts, the inability to find a specific reason for infertility, or seemingly endless fertility treatments.
• Anxiety and depression are common for both partners experiencing infertility, as financial strain mounts, disappointments recur, and the future seems uncertain.

Navigating Infertility as a Couple

While men may have difficulty expressing their emotions, and may feel the need to be strong for their partners, the truth is that infertility is a shared concern. Like many things in a partnership, it is best addressed together, working as a team. How can you work together to overcome the mental and emotional challenges of infertility?

• Talk about it. Communication is important in a relationship, and it is crucial during challenging times or periods of stress. It can be hard to talk about difficult topics, but if you can start out with talking about thoughts it can be easier to segue into talking about emotions, too. Make sure that each partner is spending equal time listening and being heard, be honest with each other, and keep it a safe space, where you can each express difficult thoughts and emotions without judgement. Make sure not to rush these conversations, but carve out time for each other and really listen.
• Don’t neglect other aspects of your life. Infertility can feel all-consuming, but it’s important not to let it overwhelm your life. Make time for fun, go out on dates, play games, and spend time with friends and family. Take time out from fertility drama and make sure that other parts of your life don’t fall by the wayside. Spending light-hearted time together can help alleviate the stress you’re experiencing.
• Learn as a couple. There are plenty of resources for those experiencing infertility, but there is also plenty of misinformation floating around. It is important to know how to separate fact from fiction, and to educate yourselves together. It can be hard to find good resources, which is why it is so important to contact a fertility specialist to help you identify solutions that are good options for you.
• Share responsibilities. Make infertility treatment a team effort. Keeping up with all the medical appointments, medication, and bills can be overwhelming, but it’s less so when you’re both shouldering the responsibility.
• Have clear boundaries. Talk to your partner more than you talk to other people. If you are going to share information with friends of family members, make sure your partner is on board with it before you do it. It is important to have support, but it’s also important to protect your partner’s privacy.
• Seek outside support. While you need clear boundaries, you also need a safe space to share what is happening. Joining a fertility support group where you can interact with others who understand what you’re going through, can be a good way to keep from feeling isolated. Support groups can be in-person or online, and they offer a safe, friendly environment in which to discuss difficult topics.
• Don’t equate infertility with failure. Whether or not you conceive, it doesn’t change who you are as a couple. Fertility is not a reflection on your relationship, and infertility is just one of the challenges you will face in your life together. By keeping communication strong, you can also strengthen your relationship and more easily navigate future challenges.

How Men Can Protect their Mental Health

• Express your emotions. Don’t feel you always have to be strong and stoic. Talk to your partner and find others to talk to as well, who will listen supportively.
• Distract yourself. Plan a weekend getaway, go hiking, take a trip, or just go out to dinner at a new restaurant. You and your partner need things to do that don’t have anything to do with fertility.
• Find support. Whether it’s a support group, a counselor, or a trusted friend or family member, think about who you want to turn to when things are tough. Make a list for yourself of people you can call when you need support.
• Manage stress. Maybe it’s engaging in hobbies you enjoy, or maybe it’s meditation or listening to music. Whatever helps you feel less anxious, more grounded, and happier is good for managing your stress.
• Remember who you are. Infertility doesn’t define you, and it doesn’t define your relationship. Look at old photos, reminisce with your partner, embrace new hobbies, and remind yourself that infertility is just something you’re going through, and not who you are.

Seek Help From Fertility Experts

If you are having trouble conceiving a child, help is available to you. At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

How to Increase Male Fertility

If you and your partner are struggling to conceive a child, you’re not alone. About one in six couples struggles with infertility, and one in three cases is due to a problem with male fertility. There are some natural remedies you can try, though, that may boost your chances of conception.

• Load up your diet with healthy foods. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, focus on getting antioxidants and healthy fats. Limit your intake of saturated fats and red or processed meat. And be careful about eating soy, because it contains plant estrogen, which can reduce testosterone bonding and sperm production.

• Take your vitamins and minerals. Though the mechanism behind it is not completely understood, research indicates that vitamin D and calcium can impact sperm health. Vitamin C improves fertility by relieving oxidative stress in the body. Additionally, limited studies suggest folate and zinc can improve sperm concentration, count, and overall health.

• Quit smoking. Smoking is bad for every part of the body, so it should come as no surprise that it’s bad for your fertility. In fact, recent research indicates that smoking consistently reduces sperm count and people who smoked moderate or heavy amounts of tobacco had lower sperm quality than non-smokers or even light smokers.

• Watch the alcohol and drugs. Don’t drink to excess, don’t do any illegal drugs, and be mindful of your prescriptions. Some antibiotics, anti-androgens, anti-inflammatories, antipsychotics, opiates, antidepressants, anabolic steroids, supplementary testosterone, and methadone can all negatively affect your fertility. If you’re concerned about a medication you’re taking, talk to your doctor.

• Keep your cool. High temperatures can damage sperm, so if you’re trying to conceive don’t hold your laptop in your lap, wear tight underwear, or soak in hot tubs. Prolonged sitting and using car seat heaters can also cause overheating.

• Consider a supplement. Certain herbal supplements may be beneficial to fertility, including fenugreek, maca root, tribulus terrestris, and Indian ginseng. D-aspartic acid, a type of amino acid, may also be helpful.

• Reduce your exposure to environmental contaminants. Poor air quality and environmental toxins have been shown to decrease male fertility. Additionally, men in jobs with exposure to chemicals and overheating, like farmers, painters, varnishers, metalworkers, and welders, had higher incidences of infertility than other groups.

• Manage your stress. Stress raises cortisol levels, and cortisol lowers testosterone.

• Get some exercise and some sleep. For each, the key is to get just the right amount- not too little and not too much. Getting enough exercise and enough rest can improve your sperm count. It can also help you lose weight, which can improve your fertility.

If you’re struggling with infertility, call the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, where we love helping people build their families! We pride ourselves on providing optimal surgical results and uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, call 941-894-6428 or contact us through our website.

What are Anti-Sperm Antibodies?

Are you and your partner struggling to become pregnant following vasectomy reversal surgery? Many factors affect the success rate of this procedure, including the potential development of anti-sperm antibodies. While this is a less common cause of male infertility, it’s still a factor worth exploring.

What are Anti-Sperm Antibodies?

Under normal conditions, sperm only exists within a man’s closed reproductive system. The tubules through which sperm travel don’t mix with other parts of the body. However, if sperm enters the bloodstream for any reason, the body’s immune system perceives the sperm as a foreign protein and produces anti-sperm antibodies in response.

Anti-sperm antibodies may cause sperm to clump together, reducing their ability to swim and subsequently reach the female egg. In rare cases, the antibodies can also cover the head of the sperm, rendering them unable to penetrate and fertilize the egg.

What Causes Anti-Sperm Antibodies?

In short, any time semen mixes with blood inside the body, anti-sperm antibodies are liable to form. Men may develop these antibodies for any of the following reasons:

• Vasectomy or other testicle surgery
• Tramatic testicle injury
• Prostate infection

Women’s reproductive systems can also produce anti-sperm antibodies if they have an allergic reaction to their partner’s semen. If present in the cervical mucus, these antibodies could damage or kill sperm as they enter the vagina. This condition is rare and not fully understood by the medical community.

Testing for Anti-Sperm Antibodies

An immunobead test (IBT) detects the presence of sperm-destroying antibodies in the blood, seminal fluid, or cervical mucus. Testing also indicates what part of the sperm is specifically affected. When performed on blood, an IBT can reveal whether the anti-sperm antibodies originate from the patient’s blood or reproductive system.

Because anti-sperm antibodies are relatively rare, and their presence doesn’t always cause infertility, your physician will likely review your medical history and conduct other tests before suggesting an IBT. Anti-sperm antibody testing should only be necessary if another cause of infertility can’t be found or the results of routine testing are inconclusive.

Treating Anti-Sperm Antibodies

While high levels of anti-sperm antibodies can make it difficult for some couples to get pregnant, their presence does not guarantee fertility issues. In fact, some findings suggest a low correlation between anti-sperm antibodies and the ability to conceive.

Still, if you’re having trouble getting pregnant, you may choose to pursue treatment for anti-sperm antibodies. Your options include immune response-lowering medication and assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as intrauterine insemination.

Dr. Joshua Green of the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is a leader in helping men overcome infertility problems. All infertility procedures we offer, including vasectomy reversal, are performed by a qualified surgeon using state-of-the-art equipment. Patients can expect concierge-level care and friendly staff interactions all along the way. To discuss your fertility concerns with Dr. Green, please contact our Sarasota, FL clinic at 941-894-6428 or schedule a free consultation online.

Symptoms of Male Infertility

Fertility difficulties affect nearly one in seven couples who are trying to have a baby. “Infertility” is defined as the inability to conceive despite having frequent, unprotected intercourse for a year or longer. In up to half of all cases, male infertility is at least partially to blame. Consider what male infertility looks like and how you can combat it.

Causes of Male Infertility

Low fertility in men is a complex subject. In short, semen must contain enough healthy, functional sperm to produce a pregnancy. There are many possible reasons why this may not be the case, including:

• Varicocele (swelling of the veins that drain the testicle)
• Infections, including epididymitis, orchitis, gonorrhea, or HIV
• Retrograde ejaculation
• Dysfunctional immune cells that attack sperm
• Cancer and nonmalignant tumors
• Undescended testicles
• Hormone imbalances
• Tubule defects or blockages
• Chromosome defects
• Erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation
• Celiac disease
• Certain medications
• Vasectomy or other surgeries on the testicles, scrotum, or prostate
• Exposure to industrial chemicals, heavy metals, or radiation
• Overheated testicles
• Drug, tobacco, and alcohol use
• Obesity

Symptoms of Male Infertility

Apart from being unable to conceive a child, there may be no other indications that you are infertile. However, depending on the underlying cause, these additional symptoms may be present:

• Sexual dysfunction, such as difficulty maintaining an erection, limited ejaculation, or low sex drive
• Pain, swelling, or lump in the testicle area
• Abnormal breast growth (gynecomastia)
• Decreased facial or body hair

Treatments for Male Infertility

If you are struggling to get your partner pregnant, consider that simple lifestyle changes can make a difference. Here’s what to try first:

• Quit smoking, limit your alcohol use, and avoid illicit drugs.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Reduce your stress level.
• Steer clear of chemicals and other environmental hazards.
• Avoid tightly fitting underwear and jeans.
• Don’t take steroids for bodybuilding or sporting purposes.

More formal treatments for male infertility include:

• Surgery to correct obstructed tubules or reverse a prior vasectomy
• Antibiotic treatment for underlying infections
• Medication or counseling for erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation
• Hormone treatments and medications

One in eight male infertility cases are treatable, allowing couples to get pregnant naturally after receiving the proper care. If male infertility treatment doesn’t work, you may still be a candidate for assisted reproductive technology (ART). This involves collecting sperm to be inserted into the female reproductive system or used with in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Your doctor might also suggest considering a sperm donor or adopting a child.

Dr. Joshua Green of the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is a leader in helping men overcome infertility problems. All infertility procedures, including vasectomy reversal, are performed with state-of-the-art equipment, including a high-powered operating microscope. Patients can expect concierge-level care and friendly staff interactions every step of the way. To learn more, please call 941-894-6428 or schedule a free consultation online.

Celebrity Infertility Spotlight: Chrissy Teigen and the Heartbreak of Miscarriage

Some celebrities are deeply protective of their privacy when it comes to their personal lives. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are one couple who have been extremely open about theirs. They’ve talked openly about their struggles with infertility and IVF, and earlier this year shared their joy over a surprise pregnancy. Sadly, that pregnancy has ended in a miscarriage. Teigen has been candid about her devastation over the end of the pregnancy as well, and there’s something very beneficial about someone being so willing to share her joy and pain. It helps other women going through the rollercoaster ride of infertility know that they are not alone.

Infertility affects about one in eight people. Often, it’s difficult to even discern the problem, and certainly, Chrissy Teigen’s experience illustrates this. Young and healthy, with a healthy husband, she struggled for years before undergoing IVF. In vitro fertilization is emotionally stressful and physically taxing, involving lifestyle changes, medications, and seemingly endless procedures. It doesn’t always work and sometimes ends in miscarriage. What’s more, many women go through this experience feeling alone because infertility is a taboo topic.

Something else that’s taboo is miscarriage, though it’s an experience shared by as many as one in four women. For Chrissy Teigen, it happened at the end of last month. When celebrities are open about their joys and pain, it helps open dialogue about difficult topics. If you’ve suffered a miscarriage, there are a few things to remember.

• It’s ok to talk about it. Talking about it can be beneficial, not just for you but for others. It may surprise you to discover how many people you know have had similar experiences. The loss of a pregnancy is an isolating event but talking about it can help you heal.
• Take the time to grieve. It can be hard to cope after a miscarriage, and some feelings of grief can resurface much later, particularly on the anniversary of the loss or what would have been the baby’s birthday. Doing something meaningful to honor your baby may bring you some peace.
• Be gentle with each other. You and your partner will go through this together, even if you feel like you’re going through it alone. Men sometimes don’t want to talk about things like this, but it doesn’t mean they don’t feel them deeply. After their miscarriage, John Legend wrote of the experience, “What an awesome gift it is to be able to bring life into the world. We’ve experienced the miracle, the power and joy of this gift, and now we’ve deeply felt its inherent fragility.”

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we’re committed to helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

Things That Affect Male Fertility

The journey to parenthood is straightforward for many, but up to 15 percent of couples fail to conceive after a year of trying to get pregnant. Male infertility plays a role in over one-third of these cases. Consider the factors that affect male fertility and what you can do to improve your chances of conceiving a child with your partner.

Causes of Male Infertility

You could have trouble getting your partner pregnant if you have any of the following:

• Low sperm count
• Abnormal sperm function
• Blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm
• Low testosterone levels

What Affects Male Fertility?

The following factors play a role in your sperm count, function, delivery, and testosterone levels:

• Varicocele: Having enlarged veins within the scrotum is the most common reversible cause of male infertility.
• Infection: Some infections interfere with sperm health or production, including several STDs, such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and HIV.
• Substance use: Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco can lower testosterone levels and sperm count.
• Overall health: Being overweight or having high blood pressure may reduce fertility. Other medical causes include undescended testicles, tumors, hormone imbalances, chromosome defects, and untreated celiac disease.
• Ejaculation issues: Various conditions may prevent proper ejaculation, including diabetes, spinal cord injuries, medications, and surgery of the bladder, urethra, or prostate.
• Environmental factors: Overexposure to heat, radiation, heavy metals, and industrial chemicals may reduce sperm count or function. Even prolonged biking, horseback riding, or physically demanding work can affect fertility.
• Emotional factors: High stress may interfere with hormones needed to produce sperm. Depression can also cause sexual dysfunction that can cause male fertility issues.

How to Improve Male Fertility

Being unable to conceive a child can be frustrating and stressful. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to improve your fertility:

• Receive treatment for underlying medical conditions.
• Talk to your doctor about switching medications if infertility is a side effect of anything you’re currently taking.
• Consider the changes you can make to reduce physical strain at work and in your daily life.
• Wear boxers, not briefs, to avoid elevated temperatures and tightness that could affect sperm count.
• Adopt stress management techniques, such as meditation, aromatherapy, yoga, and breathing exercises.
• Examine your lifestyle. If you use substances or are overweight, improving your health may increase your fertility.
• Schedule a doctor visit to check your fertility, especially if you experience sexual dysfunction, pain or swelling in the testicle area, abnormal breast growth, or hormonal irregularities along with fertility issues.

Did you previously have a vasectomy, but now you’re ready to start or grow your family? Dr. Joshua Green at the Center for Vasectomy Reversal can make your dream of fatherhood a reality. We provide state-of-the-art treatment for men looking to reverse a vasectomy or address other fertility concerns. To learn more, please call our Sarasota, FL clinic at 941-894-6428 or schedule a free consultation through our website.

New Research about Infertility is Promising

One in eight couples has trouble conceiving. Do you know how many of the cases are caused by unexplained male infertility? Nearly a quarter. For years, scientists have known that infertility can be linked to sperm that fail to throw out histones from DNA during development, but the reasons for this failure and how it happens is unclear. Now, however, that lack of clarity may be changing.

Promising new research out of Penn Medicine is showing the precise location of the retained histones and the key gene that regulates them. Researchers have also created a mouse model with a mutated version of the gene. This allows investigators to track the defects in sperm, starting with the early stages of sperm development and going through fertilization. This research could lead us to a better understanding of infertility in men, and how epigenetic mutations are passed to future generations.

What does it mean, when sperm fail to evict histones?  Histones are the main proteins in chromatin. Their function is to package DNA and turn genes on and off. Healthy sperm lose about 90-95 percent of these proteins, replacing them with protamines, smaller proteins able to pack DNA into tiny sperm. When a man has unexplained infertility, the problem is often with retained histones. The sperm count can be normal, the sperm have normal motility, and yet because the histones are in the wrong location, the couple has trouble conceiving.

Until now, research has produced conflicting results about where these histones are located. Because of the confusion of discrepant data, the burden of assisted-reproductive technologies has continued to fall on women. Even if the male has the issue, the female partner goes through hormone injections and procedures to promote a higher fertility rate.

Imagine, then, if scientists were able to use epigenetic therapies to change the levels of histones and protamines in men. With this new research, scientists are better able to closely study the mechanisms behind a mutated sperm’s trajectory, which opens the door to potential therapeutic treatments. Epigenetic drugs are already being used to treat cancer and other diseases. With a clearer understanding of how a man’s epigenome affects conception and embryonic development, we have the potential to alter sperm, so these new studies may lead to a breakthrough infertility treatment.

If you’re struggling with infertility or considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

How to Know If You’re Infertile, and What You Can Do About It

Are you concerned that you may be infertile? Doctors define infertility as a failure to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse. However, if you’ve been unsuccessfully trying to conceive, it’s smart to be evaluated as soon as possible. There are certain factors that can cause infertility, but which can be treated earlier than 12 months after you start trying. How do you know if you should be tested earlier?

If you’re over 35, you don’t need to wait a year before being tested. Age is a major factor in fertility, so you should seek medical attention if it’s been 6 months since you started trying to conceive. In fact, if age is the problem, your chances of successful medical intervention go down the longer you wait.  After age 35, fertility declines in women rapidly. By the time they’re over 40, about half of women are infertile, solely based on age, due to a low number and low quality of eggs.

Women with low egg numbers can be identified through ovarian reserve testing. Antimullerian hormone (AMH) testing and ultrasound of the ovaries to count follicles are two methods of determining the quantity of eggs. When a woman doesn’t have enough eggs, her chances of conceiving go down. Additionally, when the quality of eggs diminishes, the risk of miscarriage increases.

Another reason you might need medical tests before a year has passed is an issue with ovulation. If your cycle is irregular, you may be ovulating infrequently or not at all. This can make conception more difficult, but medical intervention can help, so seek help as soon as possible. Certain aspects of your medical history may be impacting your fertility, too, like a history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Previous abdominal surgery in women and previous testicular surgery in men can also cause issues. In all of these cases, seek medical help early for best results.

Before you see a doctor, you might want to take a look at your lifestyle and make sure you’re in the best possible health. If you have a chronic condition like diabetes or hypertension, these must be well-controlled before conception. Quit smoking if you smoke, drink only in moderation, and pack your diet with nutrient-dense foods.

If you need help with your fertility or you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

How Infertility Impacts a Relationship

If you and your partner are struggling with infertility, you probably already know that it can put a strain on your relationship. Battling infertility is expensive, stressful, and exhausting, and creates challenges for couples that few other experiences can. The key to making it through infertility with a strong relationship is to acknowledge the feelings you’re wrestling with and work through them together. While every couple’s experience is different, there are a few commonalities you might want to consider when navigating your own relationship issues.

· It’s common to feel shame about infertility. Fertility is a private issue, and couples often feel shame or embarrassment, a sense of inadequacy, or that they’re the only ones going through it. In fact, millions of couples struggle with infertility. It may be helpful to reach out to others in your situation, to reduce your feelings of isolation and help you cope with your negative feelings about infertility.

· Fertility treatments don’t always work. In vitro fertilization (IVF) has greatly improved over the years, but there are still no guarantees that you’ll successfully conceive. Many couples have to undergo multiple rounds of IVF, and miscarriages or other issues sometimes occur. It’s hard not to feel discouraged, and important to support each other during the process.

· Partners don’t always experience the same emotions while dealing with infertility. Sometimes one partner has more trouble than the other when dealing with infertility and pregnancy loss. This can put a strain on the relationship and cause arguments. It’s important to acknowledge what’s going on and be gentle with each other.

· Fertility treatments are extremely expensive. Financial concerns are already a hot button issue for many couples, so when fertility is thrown into the mix, the strain can become overwhelming. It’s important to talk about this and make sure you’re on the same page when it comes to your finances.

· Infertility may disrupt your sex life. Fertility treatments can make sex feel like a chore and put a strain on your relationship, especially when you’re also dealing with depression or negative feelings. Be patient with each other, and find ways to bring romance into your relationship.

· The most important thing is to make it through this time in your lives together. If you can weather this storm together, you’re likely to come through it with a stronger relationship. If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.