Infertility: Trying to Conceive

Given the fact that approximately 10-12% of couples in the child bearing years have trouble becoming pregnant, you want to do whatever is necessary to increase your chances of conception and get help for fertility problems.

Pregnancy is the result of a chain of events--a woman must release an egg (ovulation), the egg must travel through a fallopian tube toward her uterus, the sperm must fertilize the egg, the fertilized egg must then become attached to the uterus, and the fetus must develop in a healthy way. This whole process sounds deceptively simple but, in fact, many things can go wrong with infertility as a result.

Fertility Awareness

Being aware of your menstrual cycle and the changes in your body can be one key to helping you plan a pregnancy or avoid pregnancy. During the menstrual cycle (a total average of 28 days), day 1 starts with the first day of your period. Around Day 14 hormones cause ovulation and an egg is released from your ovary. The egg travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If a sperm unites with the egg, the egg will attach to the lining of the uterus and pregnancy occurs.  If the egg is not fertilized, it will break apart and the egg with the lining of the uterus are expelled as your menstrual flow.

The first part of the menstrual cycle is different in every woman, and even can be different from month-to-month in the same woman, varying from 13 to 20 days long. This is the most important part of the cycle to learn about, since this is when ovulation and pregnancy can occur.

Knowing when you are most fertile will help you plan or prevent pregnancy. There are three ways you can keep track of your fertile times and to most accurately track your fertility it is best to use a combination of these methods:

1) The basal body temperature method is based on the fact that your basal body temperature at rest, as soon as you awake in the morning, rises slightly with ovulation.  By carefully keeping track of this temperature every day you may be able to predict your most fertile days.

2) The calendar method involves keeping a written record of each of your menstrual cycles on a calendar so that you can predict your most fertile days.

3) The cervical mucus method (ovulation method) involves checking your cervical mucus throughout the month.

Reasons for Infertility

There are many different reasons why a couple might have fertility problems.

One is age-related. The older you are, the harder it is to become pregnant. Women generally have a decrease in fertility starting in their early 30s and while many women in their 30s and 40s have no problems getting pregnant, fertility especially declines after age 35.  Also, as you age your eggs age and if you become pregnant there is a greater chance of having a genetic problem.  Additionally, an embryo formed from eggs in an older woman are less likely to fully develop, a primary factor in miscarriage.

Couples also can have fertility problems because of health problems in either the woman or the man. Common problems with a woman's reproductive organs include uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Some people also have diseases or conditions that affect their hormone levels which can cause infertility in women and impotence and infertility in men.

Certain lifestyle choices also can have a negative effect on your fertility, such as smoking, alcohol use, weighing much more or much less than an ideal body weight, a lot of strenuous exercise, and having an eating disorder.

Unlike women, some men remain fertile into their 60s and 70s. But as men age, they might begin to have problems with the shape and movement of their sperm and have a higher risk of sperm gene defects. They also might produce no sperm, or too few sperm. Lifestyle choices also can affect the number and quality of a man's sperm.  Men also can have health problems that affect their sexual and reproductive function.

Treatment of infertility

The first step to treat infertility is to see a doctor for a fertility evaluation. The doctor will evaluate both the woman and the man, to find out if there are female infertility factors or male infertility factors, or both. Different treatments for infertility are recommended depending on the nature of the fertility problem with medication or surgery being the standard course of treatment.  Please visit the link Infertility Treatment.

If you are having problems getting pregnant, you know how frustrating it can feel. Not being able to get pregnant can be one of the most stressful experiences a man or woman has. Both counseling and support groups can help you talk about your feelings.

A psychologist or other mental health professional, experienced in infertility and infertility options, can often be an invaluable resource to help the infertile person or couple.

For more about infertility and adoption and/or for more specific information on receiving psychological help and treatment, visit the websites below and please feel free to contact me, Dr. Vince Berger, at 717 737 9068 or 717 761 5989. I have been helping people with infertility issues and adoption for over 35 years.

Vincent F. Berger, Ph.D., ABFP, ABPP
Psychologist and Life Coach
Executive Director, Adoption Services, Inc.
Office: (717) 737 9068
Message and paging: (717) 761 5989
Click here to contact Dr. Berger