Fertility FAQs

Age, reproductive health, hormones, genetics, lifestyle, underlying diseases, and environmental conditions are all factors that can contribute to male and female infertility.

To successfully conceive, a man must be able to produce enough healthy and functional sperm that can move to penetrate an egg. Male fertility problems can be caused by medical issues such as infections and problems with ejaculation, environmental factors like exposure to heavy metals, and lifestyle factors such as drug or alcohol use and obesity.

For pregnancy to occur, the ovaries need to release a mature egg. Therefore, irregular or absent ovulation is one of the main causes of female infertility. Conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can lead to unpredictable ovulation, which can make it difficult to conceive. Additionally, damage to the fallopian tubes, endometriosis, or problems with the uterus and cervix, such as an abnormal uterine shape, can all contribute to infertility in women.

Fertility specialists use a variety of treatments to address infertility, including medications, surgery, and procedures such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). They may also use sperm banking and egg freezing to help individuals undergoing certain treatments preserve their fertility for the future.

Third-party reproduction is an umbrella term in which individuals or couples with infertility use donated eggs, sperm, or embryos from a third person to have a child. This also includes using a gestational carrier, or surrogate.