As defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine<\/a> (ASRM), infertility is a disease<\/strong> characterized by the inability to achieve a successful pregnancy based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors. The need for medical intervention, including, but not limited to, the use of donor gametes or donor embryos in order to achieve a successful pregnancy either as an individual or with a partner. In patients having regular, unprotected intercourse and without any known cause for either partner suggestive of impaired reproductive ability, evaluation should be initiated at 12 months when the female partner is under 35 years of age and at six months when the female partner is 35 years of age or older.<\/p>\n 1 in 6 people of reproductive age are impacted by infertility globally. (World Health Organization<\/a>)<\/p>\n Approximately one-third of infertility is attributed to the female partner, one-third attributed to the male partner and one-third is caused by a combination of problems in both partners or, is unexplained. (American Society For Reproductive Medicine<\/a>)<\/p>\n A couple ages 29-33 with a normal functioning reproductive system has only a 20-25% chance of conceiving in any given month (National Women’s Health Resource Center<\/a>). After six months of trying, 60% of couples will conceive without medical assistance. (Infertility As A Covered Benefit, William M. Mercer, 1997)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tInsurance and Coverage Facts\n\t\t\t\t Nineteen states have either an insurance mandate<\/a> to offer or an insurance mandate to cover some level of infertility treatment. Twelve of those states have an insurance mandate that requires qualified employers to include IVF coverage in their plans offered to their employees: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.<\/p>\n A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (<\/em>August 2002) found that the percentage of high-order pregnancies (those with three or more fetuses) was greater in states that did not require insurance coverage for IVF. The authors of the study noted that mandatory coverage is likely to yield better health outcomes for women and their infants since high-order births are associated with higher-risk pregnancies.<\/p>\n The Affordable Care Act<\/a> (ACA) does not require coverage for infertility treatments. Those states with an infertility mandate that covers IVF may have chosen an Essential Health Benefits (EHB) benchmark plan that includes the IVF mandate. The EHB impacts the individual and small group markets only in each state.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tTreatment Facts\n\t\t\t\t Approximately 44% of women with infertility have sought medical assistance. Of those who seek medical intervention, approximately 65% give birth. (Infertility As A Covered Benefit, William M. Mercer, 1997)<\/p>\n Approximately 85-90% of infertility cases are treated with drug therapy or surgical procedures. Fewer than 3% need advanced reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF). (American Society for Reproductive Medicine<\/a>)<\/p>\n The most recently available statistics indicate the live birth rate per fresh non-donor embryo transfer is 47.7% if the woman is under 35 years of age and 39.2% if the woman is age 35-37. (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology<\/em><\/a>, 2013)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tWhere did all of these facts come from?\n\t\t\t\t RESOLVE works closely with many different organizations to help provide the best source of information. For more information please visit:<\/p>\n Staring down at negative pregnancy tests month after month can be soul crushing. Or knowing from the start that building your family will be an uphill battle, you need to make sure you sure you have enough information to make the choices right for you. If you are trying to get pregnant and it’s not happening as quickly as you had hoped, you may want to talk to your doctor. Let us walk you through some of the basic information about some of the red flags that may indicate a possible fertility issue as well as some tips on how to prepare for your first appointment with a fertility specialist.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tFirst things first, do you need to see a specialist?\n\t\t\t\t Take charge of your fertility by asking questions, educating yourself and partner and being your own advocate for your fertility. No one knows your body more than you. Start by asking yourself these questions:<\/p>\n If you have answered “Yes” to any of these questions, it may be time to talk to your healthcare provider regardless of how long you have been trying to conceive.<\/p>\n According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine<\/a>, if you are under the age of 35 you should consider seeing a specialist if you have been actively trying to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. 6 months for women over 35.<\/p>\n Learn more by taking the Personal Assessment Tool<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\tBut how do I find a specialist?\n\t\t\t\t Start by checking out our list of family building professionals here<\/a>. If you have already been diagnosed with infertility, learn more about your diagnosis here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t There are many different risk factors that can play a huge part when it comes to your fertility. Whether you are protecting your future fertility or trying to conceive now, it is helpful to know of the many potential risk factors in your life. There may be a number of external factors, lifestyle choices and environmental causes that can attribute to an infertility diagnosis. By identifying them and addressing them early on, it could hedge your chances in attaining a successful and healthier pregnancy.<\/p>\n Many of the risk factors for both male and female happen to be the same while other risk factors are gender specific. Find out which ones may impact you and your partner and how to optimize your fertility and over all general health.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\tRisk Factors for Women\n\t\t\t\t General Health<\/strong><\/p>\n The following are factors which can affect your ability to ovulate, conceive, or carry a pregnancy to term:<\/p>\n Age:<\/strong> Even if your fertility does not seem at risk now, remember that fertility declines with age. A woman in her late 30’s is about 30% less fertile than she was in her early 20’s. See your doctor if you are over 30 and have been trying to conceive for six months or more.<\/p>\n Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STDs): <\/strong>Twelve million cases of newly diagnosed STDs occur in the USA annually, with one quarter of those acquired by teenagers. Some STDs can be asymptomatic. They are transmitted more easily to women, and can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease<\/a> (PID) in women, and epididymitis<\/a> in men. Complications are more common in women, including subsequent scarring, miscarriage, adhesions<\/a>, blocked tubes, and ectopic pregnancy. Ultimately, infertility can be a consequence of STDs.<\/p>\n To decrease this risk:<\/strong><\/p>\n Tubal Disease: <\/strong>Fallopian tube disease<\/a> accounts for about 20% of infertility cases treated.<\/p>\n If you are having trouble conceiving, or are worried about your future fertility, be sure to tell your doctor if you have had:<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember, use of a condom can be effective in preventing the spread of STDs. If you have an infection, your partner must be treated also. A specialist can assess the health of your uterus and tubes with an x-ray known as a hysterosalpingogram (HSG)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Endometriosis: <\/strong>Endometriosis<\/a> is a disease in which uterine tissue is found outside of the uterus; on the ovaries, fallopian tube, and often on the bladder and bowel. It can occur in menstruating women of all ages, including teens. While the connection between endometriosis and infertility is not clearly understood, early detection may result in successful control and preservation of fertility.<\/p>\n Be sure to report these symptoms to your doctor:<\/strong><\/p>\n Endometriosis runs in families, so it is important to tell your doctor if your mother or sisters had symptoms or were diagnosed with the disease. It may be symptom-less, however, and diagnosis may only be confirmed with an outpatient surgery known as laparoscopy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tRisk Factors for Men\n\t\t\t\t Infertility is not solely a women’s problem.<\/strong> About 30% of infertility cases involve male factor problems alone, and 30% of cases involve problems with both partners. Many researchers believe the causes of declining male fertility during this century are environmental; they include pesticide and chemical exposure, drug use, radiation, and pollution.<\/p>\n The following is a partial list of environmental risk factors to male fertility:<\/strong><\/p>\n Medical risks to male fertility include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Many of the risk factors for both male and female infertility are the same.<\/p>\n These include:<\/strong><\/p>\nGet the Facts<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tWho has infertility?\n\t\t\t\t
\n
Infertility Diagnosis<\/h3>\n
\n
Risk Factors<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
extremely heavy menstrual flow<\/li>\n\n
\n
\n
Related content:<\/h3>\n
![\"ExEm](\"https:\/\/resolve.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ExEm-Foam-200x60-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n