FERTILITY AND OVULATION
By
understanding your menstrual cycle and
becoming aware of your body’s fertility
signals, you can determine ovulation and
plan a pregnancy.
Ovulation
typically occurs on the fourteenth day of a
woman’s cycle. Remember to start counting
days on the first day of your period. You
are most likely to become pregnant a few
days before ovulation or on the day of
ovulation. Once ovulation has occurred, it
is unlikely you will become pregnant. Two
other signs of ovulation are increased
cervical mucous and a higher basal body
temperature (BBT). Your BBT is your lowest
temperature of the day usually taken in the
morning before you get out of bed. By
observing and charting these changes, you
can determine your level of fertility.
INFERTILITY AND COMMON CAUSES
Infertility
is commonly defined as one year or more of
unsuccessfully trying to become pregnant.
Generally, it is common for most couples to
try for one year prior to seeking medical
help. However, if a woman is over 35, it is
advised to consult a doctor after six months
of trying unsuccessfully.
Infertility
affects men and women almost equally. The
most common causes of infertility in women
are:
Ovulation Problems
When an egg
is not developed and released every month.
Tubal Problems
Scarred or
blocked tube(s) prevent the passage of an
egg to the uterus. Endometriosis and pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID) are both common
causes of tubal problems.
Age Related Factors
As a woman
ages, the quality and quantity of her eggs
decreases. By her forties, a woman’s odds of
becoming pregnant have dropped dramatically
from when she was in her twenties and
thirties.
Sperm Defects
Between
40-50% of all infertility is caused by a
sperm defect or a low sperm count. It’s
important to note that many men with low
sperm counts are fertile and some men with
high sperm counts are infertile.
Previous Sterilization
Prior tubal
ligations and vasectomies can sometimes be
reversed. However, sometimes this is
impossible, and the couple will need to seek
alternative fertility help.
Unexplained Fertility
Up to 20%
of all infertile couples have unexplained
fertility. Standard fertility testing has
failed to determine a cause.
INFERTILITY TREATMENTS
Depending on the cause of infertility, there
are many new and advanced treatments that
are successful. Prior to any treatment, both
partners will be evaluated to determine the
cause(s) of infertility. Fertility drugs,
surgery, or even donor eggs and/or sperm may
be part of the treatment plan. Currently,
the most common infertility treatments are:
Tubal Surgery
Your doctor
can determine if your fallopian tubes are
blocked by performing a hysterosalpingogram
(HSG). If there is a confirmed blockage,
tubal surgery to eliminate or decrease the
blockage may increase your chances of
conceiving.
Ovarian Stimulation
For women
who are diagnosed with anovulation,
medications can be prescribed to stimulate
the development of multiple mature follicles
and eggs. This is often used in conjunction
with other types of fertility treatments.
Insemination
Infertility
caused by mild to moderate sperm
abnormalities can be treated with
intrauterine insemination.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF is
performed by taking eggs from the female and
fertilizing them in a laboratory with her
partner’s sperm. The resulting embryo is
transferred to the woman’s uterus three to
five days later.
Donor Sperm Insemination
Used in
cases of severe sperm abnormalities, donor
sperm is transferred to a woman’s uterus.
Egg Donation
Utilized in
cases of absolute anovulation, a donor egg
is fertilized in a laboratory and
transferred to a woman’s uterus.
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