Not pregnant yet? Wondering if it could be due to infertility? Are you at risk? Is your partner? Is it time to see a fertility specialist?
Trying to conceive can be stressful when things don’t go according to plan. Pregnancy is a result of a number of complicated physiological processes (and psychological ones, too!). If you haven’t gotten pregnant as quickly as you had hoped, the checklists below can help determine if infertility might be a factor.
Am I infertile?
Some common cause of infertility in women are:
- Irregular periods (the most common cause)
- Being over 35 (fertility begins dropping rapidly after this age)
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which affects ovulation
- Uterine fibroids
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
- Scar tissue/adhesions that block the Fallopian tubes.
- Cancer treatment, such as certain chemotherapy medications
Common causes of infertility in men are:
- Being over 40
- Immune system disorders
- Being under- or overweight
- Untreated sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and UTIs
It is important to note that not everyone who has the risk factors above will experience infertility, and many causes of infertility are treatable.
