Published:
October 3, 2022
Infertility is so often thought of as a woman’s issue—and it can be a painful word to hear when you’re trying to start or grow your family. But the truth of the matter is, both male and female factors can contribute to not being able to conceive or carry a pregnancy.
How Common Is Infertility among Males versus Females?
A look at the data might surprise you. About one-third of infertility results from women's challenges; another third from men’s. The remaining cases are a mix of issues or circumstances, many of which aren’t medically understood.
What Exactly Causes Infertility?
The causes of fertility issues vary, however female infertility can be caused by a number of issues including:
- Problems with ovulation
- Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes
- Advanced maternal age
- Other gynecologic conditions, such as endometriosis, prior infections, or prior surgeries
Male Infertility can be caused by factors such as:
- Varicocele, an abnormal dilation of veins within the scrotum
- Obstruction
- Medications
- Hormone abnormalities
- Ejaculation problems
Men may also be at an increased risk of fertility issues if they have a history of smoking, excessive drug or alcohol use, injury to the reproductive organs, or exposure to environmental toxins such as lead and pesticides.
Should Both Partners Should Visit a Fertility Clinic?
Short answer: yes! If you are having trouble getting pregnant, both partners may benefit from an evaluation by a fertility specialist.
To get to the root of the problem, doctors will carefully evaluate both of your health and medical histories. The first step in identifying male infertility involves testing a male’s semen. Among a variety of other factors, the number, shape, and movement of the sperm will be evaluated. A variety of tests for females, including blood tests, ultrasounds, and genetic screening, may also help identify why conception may be taking longer than you had hoped.
What Is the First Step in Fertility Treatments after an Evaluation?
Depending on you and your partner’s test results, your specialist may recommend a variety of different treatment options ranging from lifestyle modification, ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, to in vitro fertilization (IVF), or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Choosing to pursue fertility treatment can be a difficult decision with a lot of factors at play—cost, side effects and success rates to name a few. Talking with your provider, partner and support people can help you decide if there’s a treatment option that is best for you both.
At Penn Fertility Care—Lancaster General Health, we will work together to address your fertility concerns, and suggest options to help you and your partner achieve your pregnancy goals. To learn more about our fertility services, visit at LGHealth.org/Fertility, or call 717-544-0107.