You're ready to start a family - so why isn't your body cooperating? At Penn
Fertility Care - Lancaster General Health, we know how frustrating it can be
to wonder why you aren't getting pregnant. We're here to provide the answers,
expertise and support you need to achieve success.
Why Can't I Get Pregnant?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn't always straightforward. There
are many causes of infertility, and infertility affects men and women equally:
About one-third of infertility results from women's challenges; another third
from men's. The remaining cases are due to a combination of factors or
unexplained reasons.
Causes of infertility that can affect both men and women include:
- Cancer treatment
- Heavy alcohol use
- Hormone imbalances
- Obesity
- Older age
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Smoking
What Causes Infertility in Women?
Age tends to be one of the most common reasons women struggle to get pregnant.
Fertility begins to decline around age 30. Your total number of eggs decreases
rapidly by age 35. Your risk of disorders that can affect fertility also
increases as you age.
Infertility can also happen if you've been pregnant before. Secondary
infertility means you can't conceive even if you've given birth before.
Recurrent pregnancy loss means you can get pregnant, but have trouble
staying pregnant.
Other causes of infertility in women include:
-
Endometriosis, when endometrial tissue grows on other pelvic organs,
including the ovaries
-
Menstrual conditions such as infrequent or absent periods, or heavy
menstrual bleeding
-
Pelvic inflammatory disease, infection in your
reproductive organs
-
Polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal disorder that affects how your ovaries
work
- Scarring due to past abdominal surgeries or previous infections
- Uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths on your uterus
What Causes Infertility in Men?
The most common causes of infertility in men involve problems with the
testicles (the organs that make sperm) or blockages in the reproductive ducts
(pathways that carry sperm). These and other conditions that may cause male
infertility include:
-
Abnormal sperm shape or function that prevents sperm from swimming to and
fertilizing an egg
- Azoospermia, when there is no sperm in the semen
-
Erectile dysfunction, and inability to get or keep an erection during
sex
- Low sperm count, when there are very few sperm your semen
-
Medications, such as testosterone and anabolic steroids, which can decrease
sperm production
-
Retrograde ejaculation, which causes sperm to go backward into your bladder
during ejaculation
-
Varicocele, enlarged veins within the scrotum that can decrease sperm
production
Our Treatments for Infertility
Sometimes improving your ability to get pregnant is as simple as making
lifestyle modifications or improving your health. In other cases, you need
more targeted fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization or
reproductive surgery. No matter the cause of infertility, we can help. At Penn
Fertility Care - Lancaster General Health, we offer comprehensive, in-house
infertility testing to get to the bottom of your pregnancy challenges and
build a care plan that will work for you.
You'll receive guidance and personalized attention from experienced fertility
specialists, so can embark on your path to parenthood with confidence.
Make an Appointment
Call 717-544-0107 or request an appointment to schedule your fertility
consultation.