Article
Holidays can be difficult for those trying to get pregnant without success
The holidays are traditionally a time of joy, but for couples trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant, it can also be a time for uncomfortable queries and conversations. It often starts with that one well-intentioned, but often intrusive, question from family and friends: when are you going to have a baby? It’s a query that can bring unintended pain for those who have been trying, without success, to get pregnant.
About 12 out of every 100 couples will have trouble getting pregnant. It’s not an uncommon problem, and it affects both men and women.
There can be many reasons for reduced fertility including irregular ovulation, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes or physical problems with the uterus or other reproductive organs in women, and low or no sperm count in men. Age, past illness and certain lifestyle factors can also affect the fertility of both women and men, including smoking, heavy alcohol or drug use, being over- or underweight, stress and poor diet, among others.
Fertility testing
If you’ve been trying to get pregnant without success for 12 months, or six months for women older than 35, it’s a good idea to see your provider for fertility testing. For women, we take a detailed medical and family history, and perform a pelvic exam to start. We may also recommend imaging studies to view the fallopian tubes and other structures to look for potential issues. Men should be tested with a semen analysis.
Although testing often reveals where the trouble lies, there are times when no specific cause is found. The good news is that most infertility issues can be addressed with medication or surgery.
Unsuccessful attempts at pregnancy can be hard emotionally, but it’s important to remember no one is to blame and there are a wide variety of options available to address many of the most common causes. If you are having trouble getting pregnant, schedule an appointment and we’ll work with you to diagnose the issue and develop a treatment plan.
Related posts
Looking for more women's health insights?
Throughout your pregnancy, you experience tremendous changes physically, hormonally and emotionally. Your body is dedicated to the life forming over the course of about 40 weeks. But after you deliver, you go through just as many changes in a much shorter timeframe, including a sudden dramatic drop in hormones, while also recovering from delivery and caring for a newborn, which can be exhausting and stressful.
We’ve all heard some of the many “tricks” to help women get pregnant. But what really works?Both female and male fertility is affected by a wide range of factors, including medical history, current health, age, family history, medications and environmental factors. Some women become pregnant as soon as they start trying, while others take longer or experience difficulties.Here are a few things that may help:
A woman’s fertility ebbs and flows across both her lifetime and her cycle, and can be impacted by a range of internal and external factors. Whether you are trying to become pregnant, or looking to avoid it, understanding what affects your fertility is important. When is your fertility the highest? We break down some highlights below.