Infertility is clinically defined as not able to get pregnant after one year of having regular sexual intercourse without the usage of birth control measures. On the other hand men are considered as infertile when they’ve been trying to make their wives conceive for one year with no success. So, basically there are plenty of people out there in the world struggling with this label of being infertile.
Infertile doesn't mean that you're out of options. Today, we are living in the field of technology and there is a solution to most world problems. Today, IVF which is known as In vitreo fertilization is the hope to help women who are childless.
There are a few factors that can contribute to female infertility like advanced maternal age, defined as having a pregnancy at the age of 35 or over, as you get older, your fertility gradually declines, which is why women who fall into this group may take longer to get pregnant and other conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, having damaged or blocked fallopian tubes that can’t be treated with surgery, and premature ovarian failure (a loss of normal ovarian function before age 40) may also make it harder to get pregnant without reproductive assistance;
a cancer diagnosis or an abnormally-shaped uterus may make fertility complicated as well. There’s also something known as “unexplained infertility” which is exactly what it sounds like you have trouble getting pregnant and doctors don’t know why.
It’s also important to keep in mind that it's not always your uterus that's the issue. Many a times your partner is responsible too. Male infertility is the issue in 20 percent of cases of infertile couples. So it’s important for your partner also to be involved in the process and to undergo testing, too. A semen analysis can tell doctors about sperm motility, shape, and concentration, all of which can play a role in fertility.
Some infertile women will get pregnant without reproductive assistance, while others may need help. Some women may get pregnant after identifying and addressing whatever problem was getting in the way, while others may need to undergo rounds of a fertility drug to stimulate ovulation. There are also options like intrauterine insemination (IUI), which involves placing sperm inside your uterus when you’re fertile, or in vitro fertilization (IVF), which involves retrieving eggs and fertilizing them with sperm in a lab, then implanting those embryos in your uterus.
So, next time people mock at you for being infertile or you yourself hear the word "infertility" please do not presuppose that you're out of options. IVF is the hope for childless couples.
