Infertility Program at the Women's Center
Have you been trying to have a baby and are unable to become pregnant? At the Stillwater Medical Group Women's Center, we understand how important it is to you to have a baby and we want to help you achieve your goals of starting or adding to your family.
Our new Infertility Program begins with a visit to one of our gynecologists. You will meet with one of our doctors for a thorough exam to find out if there is a medical reason you have been unable to become pregnant. We may run some tests to see if there are any conditions we may need to treat that may be preventing you from becoming pregnant. We will also discuss your partner's health - for example, we may request a semen analysis test or potentially refer your partner to a specialist to evaluate your partner's fertility capabilities.
Your next step, upon your physician's recommendation, may be to enter our Infertility Program. You will schedule a one-hour infertility work-up visit with one of our nurse midwives who will discuss with you the infertility process, including:
- an overview of the Infertility Program
- you and your partner's medical and reproductive history
- a physical exam for family history, infertility history and lifestyle assessment
- potential recommendation for a physical exam for your partner
- possible blood draws for further testing for you and your partner
- review of financial concerns for infertility care
- collaboration with you for a plan of care that is specific to your needs
What is infertility?
Infertility is not being able to get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year for healthy women under age 30, or six months for women over age 35.
How common is infertility?
Approximately 12% of women (7.3 million) in the United States aged 15-44 had difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term in 2002, according to the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Is infertility just a woman's problem?
No, infertility is not always a woman's problem. In only about one-third of cases is infertility due to the woman (female factors). In another one-third of cases infertility is due to the man (male factors). The remaining cases are caused by a mixture of male and female factors, or by unknown factors.
What causes infertility in women?
Problems with ovulation account for most cases of infertility in women. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods. Other causes could include blocked fallopian tubes, physical problems with the uterus or uterine fibroids.
What things increase a woman's risk of infertility?
Many things can affect a woman's ability to have a baby. These include age, stress, poor diet, athletic training, being overweight or underweight, tobacco smoking, alcohol use, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), medications, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or health problems that cause hormonal changes.
What causes infertility in men?
Infertility in men is most often caused by the production of too few sperm or none at all, or with the sperm's ability to reach the egg and fertilize it.
What increases a man's risk of infertility?
The number and quality of a man's sperm can be affected by his overall health and lifestyle. Some things that may reduce sperm number and/or quality include age, alcohol use, drug use, environmental temperature, environmental toxins (including pesticides and lead), smoking cigarettes, health problems, medications, radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer.
How does age affect a woman's ability to have children?
More and more women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children. Actually, about 20% of women in the United States now have their first child after age 35. So, age is an increasingly common cause of fertility problems. About one third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems.
Can stress affect a woman's ability to become pregnant?
The ups and downs of hope and disappointment, sadness and frustration can result in high levels of stress. Research shows that the main sources of stress for infertility patients are the impact of infertility on their social life, their sexual health, and their relationship with their partner. It is very important to find ways to manage emotional stress, such as learning and practicing mind-body skills. Mind body skills include meditation, controlled breathing techniques and guided imagery. These skills can replace anxiety with a feeling of calm and peace. You can join a mind body skills group at Lakeview Health to learn these skills. Acupuncture or cognitive behavior therapy are also treatments to help reduce stress.
How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctor?
Most healthy women under the age of 30 shouldn't worry about infertility unless they've been trying to get pregnant for at least one year, or women over the age of 35 who have been trying to get pregnant for more than six months. At this point, women should talk with their doctor about a fertility evaluation. Men should also talk to their doctor if this much time has passed.
Some health issues also increase the risk of fertility problems. Women with the following issues should speak to their doctor as soon as possible: irregular periods or no menstrual periods, very painful periods, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or more than two miscarriages.
No matter how old you are, it's always a good idea to talk to an obstetrician or midwife before you start trying to get pregnant. At the Stillwater Medical Group Women's Center, we can help you prepare your body for a healthy baby. We can also answer questions about infertility and give tips on conceiving. Learn more about pregnancy and midwifery, and meet our obstetricians and midwives.
Fertility Glossary(pdf)
