Three Surprising Infertility Facts

Bringing a child into the world is miraculous. Unfortunately, not everyone can experience this miracle for one reason or another. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive, and many people struggle with this issue without any hope of becoming a parent. Although common, infertility is not understood by most people. This guide will teach you a few surprising facts about infertility.

Infertility Is More Common Than You Think

If you are struggling to conceive, you may feel depressed and alone. In addition, many people will feel like failures. It is important to remember that you are not alone since infertility is actually more common than you may think. While surprising to learn, an estimated 10 percent of women in the United States who are between the ages of fifteen and forty-four struggle with infertility issues.

Infertility Doesn't Just Affect Women

If you and your partner are trying and failing to conceive, you may feel like it is all your fault. In many cases, infertility struggles stem from an underlying issue affecting the female reproductive system. However, men also struggle with fertility problems.

On average, one in twenty men has a fertility issue. This issue may stem from a low sperm count or it may be your partner does not have any sperm that can effectively ovulate your egg to conceive.

Remember that you and your partner are a team, so you both will suffer from the fertility issue.

You and your partner should talk to doctors about testing, so the root cause of the fertility problem can be diagnosed.

Assistance Is Possible

There are many options available for couples who are struggling to conceive. Assistance will be based around you and your partner's specific needs.

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is becoming a popular option today for couples who are both struggling with infertility.

This type of assistance involves a few procedures, depending on you and your partner's needs.

The treatment starts with you taking medications to help you produce more eggs, which are then removed. The eggs are mixed with your partner's sperm in a laboratory setting and then implanted directly into your uterus. To conceive, these fertilized eggs, or embryos, must implant effectively.

The IVF process is long and overwhelming, but it is effective for women who do not produce many eggs or for women whose eggs are not capable of implanting on their own. IVF is also beneficial for couples where the male's sperm count is low or the sperm is weak since the fertilization takes place in the lab.