Infertility and Reproduction

Infertility is the inability to become pregnant after trying for a year. After age 35, infertility is diagnosed after six months of unsuccessful trying.

Childbirth is one of the happiest moments of a parent’s life, but infertility and reproduction traditionally stood in the way of many women from being able to conceive. Women in eastern Oklahoma don’t have to live with infertility alone thanks to the infertility, reproduction and women’s health services available at Saint Francis Health System.

What Causes Infertility?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately seven percent of all married American women age 44 and younger struggle with infertility while trying to conceive. To overcome infertility, you must understand its cause. Knowing your complete medical history and undergoing a physical exam with appropriate tests can help diagnose the root cause.

Common causes of infertility in women include:

• Existing health conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome, fallopian tube obstruction and uterine fibroids.
• Lifestyle choices like smoking, unmanaged stress, extreme weight gain or loss and excessive alcohol use.
• Unchangeable factors such as age and personal history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Infertility and Reproduction Treatment

Once your OB/GYN or other provider understands the cause of your infertility, treatment can begin. Your treatment depends upon the cause of your infertility.

Often, medication is the first line of treatment. A common medication used is clomiphene. This medication is taken at home orally for five days, with the first dose taken on or near day five of your cycle. Clomiphene is also used to help men overcome infertility issues.

When medication doesn’t work, further treatment is needed. There are many treatment options provided by reproductive endocrinologists and other specialists that may include surgical intervention for growths or abnormalities in the reproductive organs. 

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