Most couples develop a willingness to conceive a child at some point in their life. Generally, couples conceive within the first year, and around 7% of couples conceive in the second year. The inability to conceive within 12 months is defined as infertility. It is recommended to seek help from a reproductive endocrinologist if you are unable to conceive within 12 months. Our modern technology in healthcare has opened a lot of options for women who are facing infertility issues.

Symptoms of Infertility The first and foremost symptom of infertility is the inability to conceive. If you are trying to conceive for more than a year then you might consider visiting a reproductive endocrinologist. However, during some special conditions, you may need to visit your doctor earlier:

• Women having irregular periods. Regular periods indicate that you are ovulating regularly. Eggs are produced through ovulation two weeks prior to the next period. Ovulation of the egg is essential for pregnancy, and any irregularity in this process leads to an inability to conceive. If you have irregular periods then it is better to get evaluated from a reproductive endocrinologist.

• Female who is of age 35 years or older. In women, the number of eggs decreases with aging. With age, even the quality of the egg and genetic normalcy declines. By your fertility evaluation, your doctor will be able to guide you better in your journey to a healthy pregnancy.
• During any history of sexually transmitted diseases or infections. In women, these infections may damage or Blocked fallopian tubes, which can be the reason for infertility. If you had any prior pelvic infection, your doctor can perform an HSG test where your fallopian tubes will be checked for any damage.
• History of endometrial polyps or uterine fibroids. Abnormalities of the uterus affect the endometrium causing impaired implantation and miscarriages. These abnormalities also cause irregular bleeding between your periods. In such conditions, surgeons perform hysteroscopy to correct the anomaly using a narrow tube with a camera.
• Any history of semen abnormalities in males. If your male partner had a history of defects during semen analysis and if you are unable to conceive in 6 months, visit your doctor.

Infertility Treatment

Most of the time, we can not prevent the causes of infertility, but today we have some effective treatment options to overcome infertility.

1. Educating About Infertility - Educating yourself about infertility is the first step towards your treatment. We believe that educating the patients about the problem associated with their pregnancy and the available treatment options can empower them to make better choices. When you understand better about the reproductive process, you will be able to decide when to seek help. We aim to achieve a healthy pregnancy for every patient.
2. Fertility Medication - There are drugs available that can induce ovulation and development of eggs. Pills that can stimulate ovulation need to be taken during the 3rd to 5th day of your menstrual cycle. Injections for ovulation are typically taken for 10 to 15 days. These medications help in the maturation and release of healthy eggs.
3. IUI or intrauterine insemination - IUI is a process in which sperm is washed in a fluid and placed directly into the uterine cavity. Motile and viable sperms are selected to ovulate the egg. This increases the chances of pregnancy.