Top 3 Fertility Questions
Is male factor infertility more common than female infertility?
In about one-third of cases, male factor infertility is the sole source of reproductive problems. In roughly another third, the problem is a result of female infertility. The rest of the time, both males and females contribute to infertility. So, male and female factors are more or less equal in their frequency.
Male factor infertility, however, is easier to identify and treat, in most cases. For this reason, semen analysis is often the first testing procedure to be performed when a couple begins a fertility assessment.
How does age affect fertility?
A woman's fertility peaks in her early twenties, declining gradually by about 30, and steeply after 35. Contemporary women are often surprised and frustrated to learn this, as 35-year-old women are still quite young, by most standards. Women who are in their mid to late thirties and want to have children are likely to have more trouble than women who are having children during their mid to late twenties. The need for fertility assistance is even more common among women who have reached their forties.
Because men continue to produce sperm throughout their reproductive lives, while women are born with all of the eggs they will ever have, age is not as significant a factor in male fertility problems, although it may still play a role.
Will I need a high-risk OB-GYN after conceiving with IVF?
Just because a woman has trouble getting pregnant does not necessarily mean she will have trouble being pregnant. Most women who conceive through in vitro fertilization have very normal, routine, healthy pregnancies. As long as no additional factors require the attention of a high-risk obstetrician, most IVF patients can continue seeing a regular OB-GYN.
Complications that indicate the need for a high-risk OB-GYN include multiple pregnancies (especially with three or more fetuses), certain pre-existing medical conditions, and a personal history of miscarriage or complicated pregnancy.
While many questions are specific to a patient's condition and must be answered on an individual basis, you can read some of the frequently asked questions about general fertility information here.
To learn more or to schedule a consultation with an IVF FLORIDA physician, request an appointment.
