If you aren't able to get pregnant after a year of trying (or 6 months, if you're over 35), your doctor may suggest testing and treatment. But some people who have tried treatment without success become pregnant later without more treatment.
Sometimes infertility is related to lifestyle or other health conditions. To help protect your fertility:
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and hope to have children in the future, talk to your doctor about your options to help preserve fertility.
To check for infertility, a doctor can:
Before you have fertility tests, it may help to try fertility awareness. Chart basal body temperature and use home tests to learn when you are likely to ovulate and be fertile. Some people find that they have been missing the most fertile days when trying to conceive.
Medicine or hormone treatments are often the first steps in fertility treatment. They're also used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies. Medicines include:
It's important to take care of your body when you're trying to get pregnant. Here are some things you can do.
Track your period by writing down when it starts and stops for a few months. This information can help you figure out when you ovulate. That way, you will know when you are most likely to get pregnant.
For some people with fertility problems, a structural problem can be treated with surgery. Treatment can increase the chances of natural conception.
When thinking about surgery, ask your doctor questions about the procedure. For example, how many times has the surgeon done the procedure? What are the chances of treatment success? How long will it take to recover?
Surgery may include:
If you have severely blocked fallopian tubes, your doctor may recommend that you skip surgery and have in vitro fertilization (IVF). You might also choose IVF first if you are older than 34 (for any type of blockage) or if you want to get pregnant as soon as possible, at any age. You may be able to get pregnant sooner if you choose IVF than if you have surgery.
Things that increase your risk for infertility include:
When you have infertility, you may feel alone, confused, or scared. Talking with others about your feelings can help. Here are some places you may find support.
Here are some steps you can take to help lower the risk of fertility problems and increase the chances of pregnancy.
Very strenuous exercise may be a cause of lower sperm counts.
Smoking, drinking alcohol, using marijuana or other drugs, being very overweight, and psychological stress are some of the lifestyle factors that can affect sperm and sperm production.
Many things may increase scrotal temperatures, including regular use of hot tubs and saunas. High scrotal temperatures may decrease sperm count and quality.
These include substances such as pesticides and heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and mercury.
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