A Closer Look at You
Women and Infertility

Conception is a complex process that depends on many factors aligning at just the right time. It's no wonder, then, that an estimated 15 percent of U.S. couples struggle with infertility.* Defined as the inability to become pregnant or to impregnate a woman after at least one year of having unprotected sex, infertility has any number of causes and a variety of treatments.

The Source of the Problem
The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) reports that about one third of cases result from female factors, one third from male factors and the remaining third from a combination of the two or unknown reasons.

The most common cause of infertility in women is a problem with ovulation, such as premature ovarian failure (when the ovaries stop functioning before menopause) or polycystic ovary syndrome (when the ovaries fail to release a viable egg regularly). Other causes include blocked fallopian tubes, uterine fibroids or problems with the uterine wall. In addition, lifestyle and environmental factors may influence a woman's ability to conceive. These may include:

In men, insufficient or abnormal sperm are the most likely culprits. The same health and lifestyle factors that decrease a woman's fertility can also affect men. Radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer, as well as exposing the testes to high temperatures, may also increase a man's risk of infertility.

What Can Be Done?
The majority of couples treated for infertility — about 66 percent — are eventually able to conceive a child, according to the NWHIC. For some, simple lifestyle changes, such as stress reduction and diet change, may help improve their chances. For others, medical treatment may be necessary.

Medications like clomiphene citrate and hMG can help promote ovulation. Although not without risks, more than half of women treated with these drugs become pregnant within six treatment cycles.*

Surgery can open blocked fallopian tubes, remove growths or scarring, and treat endometriosis in women. Surgery may also repair problems with men's sperm.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) aids conception by processing eggs and sperm in a laboratory. The two most common procedures include insemination, in which sperm is introduced to the uterus without sex, and in vitro fertilization, in which eggs are fertilized in a lab, then placed in the uterus to grow.

Despite the many advances in infertility treatment, it's not always possible to find a cause. But with your doctor's help, you may be able to discover and overcome the obstacles in your way.

* Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, www.acog.org.

The Spirit of Women Hospital Network
is a national coalition of hospitals and
health care facilities in more than 60 U.S. cities that have joined together to advance
the cause of women's health care. The Methodist Hospital is proud to be a Spirit of Women member and is committed to providing educational initiatives for women and their families to address health topics such as menopause, cancer, incontinence, diabetes, heart disease, healthy pregnancy and many more.

To learn more about the Spirit of Women program at Methodist and upcoming events, visit www.methodistspiritofwomen.com or call 866-350-7589.