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FERTILITY GUIDES
Infertility is a common issue—one that can be a difficult journey to embark on if you and your partner aren’t sure where to start. Even though you may be facing challenges, such as low sperm count or are in need of medication to increase fertility, that doesn’t mean you’re alone in the process. Kofinas Fertility Group specializes in giving you the best opportunity at starting a family, and our expert team of top fertility specialists can answer all the questions you have to alleviate any concerns.
To give you a better idea of what kinds of issues you and your partner may be facing, we have constructed a guide that you can use to stay ahead of any unknown terrain. As you follow along, you’ll learn about:
Understanding the differences between fertility and infertility can be a little confusing since the terms are regularly used to describe the same concept. However, each one represents a stage of diagnosing a problem and taking steps to solve it.
According to The International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART), infertility is recognized as the failure to achieve a successful pregnancy after 12 months of consistent, unprotected sexual intercourse. Infertility can also persist if a person’s ability to reproduce as an individual or with a partner is impaired.
If either of these situations is the case, fertility interventions may be started depending on the subject’s age, physical condition, and medical, sexual, and reproductive history. Essentially, infertility means recognizing that there is a problem, whereas fertility means taking action to fix it.
Keep in mind, stating that someone is infertile represents a different meaning whether one is referring to a man or woman. In either case, it’s important to know what infertility means for each sex.
Unfortunately, women bear the brunt of infertility issues when it comes to diagnosing reasons for unsuccessful pregnancies. In most cases, female infertility is caused by issues dealing with ovulation. It’s estimated that 25% of all infertility issues are caused by the women’s inability to ovulate on a regular schedule. This can be caused by a number of reasons, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), poor production of pituitary hormones, obesity, thyroid disease, or eating disorders.
Along with ovulation issues, another 25% of infertility cases deal with tubal or peritoneal factors. These can include damaged fallopian tubes or pelvic and abdominal linings, which cause faulty egg implantation within the uterus.
Roughly 10% of women in the U.S. experience infertility. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) gauges that 10 out of 100 women in the country, between the ages of 15-44, will have trouble becoming pregnant or staying pregnant. In the state of New York alone, over 4 million women are struggling with the same issues.
Irregular Menstrual Periods
Having a cycle that is inconsistent or unpredictable when compared to an average 28-day timeframe.
Painful or Heavy Menstruation
Periods that may be more painful than normal cramps, disrupting your daily life (potential sign of endometriosis).
Hormonal Changes
A change in sex drive, skin irritations, facial hair growth, damages hair follicles, or excessive weight gain.
Pain During Sexual Intercourse
This may be the result of hormonal fluctuations, endometriosis, or other issues that can increase odds of infertility.
Diagnosis of Specific Conditions
Having a previous diagnosis of PCOS, Endometriosis, Fibroids, and more can be a sign to look out for since we know certain conditions can contribute to or cause infertility.
Along with common infertility signs, there are a number of contributing causes for each sex that you should understand in order to present the best odds of achieving pregnancy. We will also examine major risk factors that can increase infertility, giving you insight into what measures can be taken to lead a healthier lifestyle and maximize your efforts.
When reading through this section, be advised that some issues that cause infertility occur at birth for an individual. For others, infertility issues may develop over time. In either case, many issues can be solved with the right treatment, so any fears moving forward shouldn’t deter you from starting the family you’ve dreamed of.
PCOS
As mentioned before, PCOS causes severe hormonal changes, hyperprolactinemia (when too much prolactin is created, stimulating breast milk production), it can damage the ovulation process, and fluctuating levels of hyperthyroidism can stifle the menstrual cycle, leading to infertility.
Endometriosis
This condition is an often painful condition where the protective lining inside the uterus (endometrium) grows outside of it and forms along other parts of the reproductive organs. Although it is outside of the uterus, it will still undergo the same reactions with each menstrual cycle, causing it to shed and bleed within the pelvic area. The severe pain results in a painful or heavy menstruation. Because of potential damage this can cause to your reproductive organs, endometriosis can also be a cause of infertility.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are typically benign, small tumors that grow inside the uterine wall (womb) and potentially cause disruption to pregnancies. Their presence can also cause hormonal changes within the reproductive system, which can also cause fertility issues.
Others
In some cases, eating disorders, physical injuries, too much physical activity, and tumors have also been known to increase the odds of infertility.
Damaged fallopian tubes, uterus, or cervix have the potential to cause infertility due to several abnormalities or infections. For example, salpingitis is a condition where the fallopian tubes become enflamed, resulting in damage or blockage to passageways. Often, pelvic inflammatory disease is to blame, stemming from an STD, endometriosis, or other membranous fibers.
When analyzing the uterus, harmful polyps can form that disrupt sperm penetration, as well as benign tumors (uterine fibroids) forming along the uterine wall and blocking the fallopian tubes in rare situations.
Signs of early menopause (primary ovarian insufficiency) can occur in patients who are under the age of 40. In this circumstance, the ovaries stop functioning altogether, ending the menstrual cycle for unknown reasons. Possible reasons for early menopause have been linked to genetics (Turner syndrome, Fragile X syndrome) radiation therapy, chemotherapy, smoking cigarettes, and immune system diseases. However, most cases cannot be accurately diagnosed.
After pelvic surgeries or pelvic-related issues (infections, appendicitis), scar tissue can form and block transport of the egg. This is known as pelvic adhesions, which is often a result of endometriosis.
Cancers affecting reproductive organs have the potential to cause infertility. Unfortunately, radiation therapy and chemotherapy can make matters worse.
There are a number of other medical issues that contribute to infertility in women. These include celiac disease, diabetes, lupus, ovulation disorders, amenorrhea, and more.
The other 40% of sources of infertility among couples is largely due to a man’s inability to produce optimal levels of healthy semen. When analyzing the quality of semen and its potency, certain factors must be measured. For instance, healthy semen will be produced in a substantial volume with fluid motility and good sperm morphology. With this in mind, if any of these components become jeopardized, infertility can occur.
One of the most common reasons for male infertility is a condition known as varicocele, which causes veins within the testicles to swell and enlarge. The swelling creates heat that can damage both the quantity and quality of sperm. Aside from this condition, there are plenty of other factors that can contribute to male infertility, such as poor health habits, previous injuries, damage to reproductive organs, birth defects, or blocked passageways. Although it may be frustrating, roughly 10% of men throughout the U.S. experience issues with infertility, so finding a solution is certainly not something men have to do on their own.
Testicular Pain or Swelling:
Issues with testicular pain or swelling could be caused by a variety of reasons, but many of them can also cause infertility.
Loss of Sexual Desire:
A man’s sexual desire is often linked to his hormones, so any changes in their sex drive could indicate problems of infertility.
Difficulty Keeping Erections:
Issues maintaining an erection are also linked to insufficient hormone levels.
Ejaculatory Issues:
Having consistent dry spells or losing the ability to ejaculate can indicate a serious underlying issue that requires attention.
Poor Testicular Health:
Since the testicles are vital for sperm production, this condition can tell a lot about the reproductive health of an individual. If the testicles are small or firm, chances of infertility may be increased.
Along with common infertility signs, there are a number of contributing causes for each sex that you should understand in order to present the best odds of achieving pregnancy. We will also examine major risk factors that can increase infertility, giving you insight into what measures can be taken to lead a healthier lifestyle and maximize your efforts.
When reading through this section, be advised that some issues that cause infertility occur at birth for an individual. For others, infertility issues may develop over time. In either case, many issues can be solved with the right treatment, so any fears moving forward shouldn’t deter you from starting the family you’ve dreamed of.
Everyone’s battle with infertility is different, and almost all of these conditions can be properly managed with professional help to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
On the other hand, you are in control of many fertility factors on your own! Being aware of the following issues is only half the battle; the other 50% relies on you making good decisions and eliminating any risk factors that can increase your odds of a healthy pregnancy whenever possible.
Don’t Start Trying Too Late:
Remember, after the age of 35, female infertility starts to plummet. Female eggs have the best shot of attaching during a woman’s early to late 20s. The same rules apply to men who are over the age of 40. Sperm quality and quantity tend to drop as you move away from younger years.
Quit Smoking:
Aside from it being terrible for your general health, it’s even worse on your chances of fertility. Smoking cigarettes leads to damaged fertility treatments, increased odds of miscarriages, erectile dysfunction, and a decreased sperm count.
Obesity:
Being overweight has a negative effect on your reproductive health due to constant inactivity, which can lead to infertility. For men, obesity has the potential to stunt sexual desire and lower sperm counts.
It can be intimidating to reach a point where you require fertility treatments to become pregnant, but Kofinas Fertility Group offers expert medical care and guidance to help you have the family you’ve always dreamed of.
To get started, a fertility specialist will give you a general assessment to have a complete understanding of your issues. Once the source of your infertility is discovered, a treatment plan will be designed for you that directly solves the problem and gives you the best possible chance for having a successful, complication-free pregnancy. During your assessment, you will undergo the following procedures:
Once your case is fully examined, you and your fertility team will put your unique treatment into action. Your unique fertility therapies might include some of the following:
Low-complexity therapies
Cryopreservation
In vitro fertilization
Genetic testing
Donation & surrogacy
Surgical procedures
Of course, deciding to start a family comes with its own obstacles, but dealing with infertility on either side can take a huge emotional and financial toll on you and your partner if you’re unprepared.
On average, fertility treatments can cost thousands of dollars, not to mention the emotional challenges of being told you’re infertile or realizing that a partner is infertile. Studies have shown that couples who are infertile are 3 times more likely to end their relationships than those who aren’t. On the other hand, there is substantial evidence that suggests overcoming infertility challenges can, in fact, strengthen a relationship!
It all depends on how you and your partner navigate the issue and create a plan to move forward. Successful pregnancies occur when both parties are committed to understanding the challenges and executing a plan for the future, so as long as you are both ready to take on whatever road lies ahead, there’s still so much to be hopeful for.
People often assume infertility treatments come with outrageous price tags, but in fact, there are several ways to offset high prices and come up with a plan that is easy to manage financially. It’s important to remember that most patients will become pregnant using less expensive treatment options, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or by treating medical conditions (such as ovulatory disorders). Something like an in vitro fertilization (IVF), which can be pricey with initial costs and medications, will only be required for a small percentage of patients. Typically, any treatment options can be financed with third-party loan options from Prosper Healthcare Lending. Take our Fertility Mandate Quiz to find out if you qualify for insurance coverage!
In addition, Kofinas Fertility Group offers an Insured IVF Success program that will refund you completely if your IVF procedure isn’t successful.
This incredible program gives patients peace of mind when investing in their futures and the extra boost of financial relief can be a great way to keep your mind focused on what really matters: starting a family!
Essentially, couples who medically qualify for the program are offered up to three IVF or fresh donor egg cycles, along with as many frozen embryo transfer cycles until you have a viable 12-week pregnancy. We understand that most couples do not have insurance to cover the cost of an IVF, which is why we do our best to support couples in need and fully support your journey in any way possible.
After reading this guide, we hope you have a better understanding of what challenges lie ahead and how you can overcome them. Starting this new chapter in your life may be trickier than you once thought, but Kofinas Fertility Group is here to do whatever we can to help you reach your destination.
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