1. What is the definition of infertility?
An accepted definition of infertility is the inability of a couple
to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse appropriately timed with
ovulation. The estimated incidence of infertility is 10-15% of the general population.
Interestingly, the monthly rate of conception for couples without fertility problems
is only 20-25% and after one year approximately 85% of these couples will have
conceived.
2. What are the most common reasons for infertility?
Infertility is commonly approached as treatment of a couple and should not
be viewed as a fault of the male or female. During the evaluation, factors can
be identified as potentially contributing to the cause of infertility. The breakdown
is approximately:
Female factors: 40% , Male Factors: 40%, Unexplained 20%, Tubal blockage,
Poorly functioning sperm, No identifiable cause, Ovulatory dysfunction. In approximately
30-40% of couples, multiple infertility factors are found together.
3. What are fertility medications and how do they work?
The most common fertility medications are classified as ovulation induction
drugs and have been approved for patients with ovulation disorders. However,
they are also utilized for 'super' ovulation. These medications by-pass the usual
female hormonal pathways and stimulate the ovary to produce more than the usual
one follicle per month, increasing the number of eggs exposed to sperm, thereby
increasing the chance for pregnancy.
One type, clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene), is administered in a tablet
form and usually results in one or two follicles each cycle. The other class
are called gonadotropins (Repronex, Follistim, Gonal-F ) and are currently administered
by injection. They can stimulate the ovary to produce many dominant follicles
each cycle. These medications can be combined with intercourse, intrauterine
insemination, or In-vitro fertilization (IVF) to enhance one's chance for conception.
4. What are the risks of fertility medications?
Fertility medications carry risks that can vary depending on the diagnosis
and a patient's response to the medications. In general, the following are the
most common risks with the use of these medications, usually associated more
with gonadotropins.
1) Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. This occurs in about 1-5% of cycles.
The ovaries become enlarged due to overstimulation with fertility medications.
The blood vessels supplying the ovaries become 'leaky' and results in fluid collecting
in the abdomen. In severe cases (~1%) hospitalization is required for close monitoring.
The problem lasts for 1-2 weeks but can be longer if pregnancy results.
2) Multiple births. Since more follicles are being stimulated to grow with
fertility medications, there is a higher rate of multiple births. The multiple
birth rate with clomiphene citrate is 5-10% and with gonadotropins it is 15-20%
per pregnancy. In order to put this into perspective, the chance for a couple
to have a multiple birth spontaneously is about 1-2%.
3) Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy in another location of the body other
than the uterus and usually is in one of the fallopian tubes. The normal rate
is about 2% in the general population but may be slightly higher with fertility
medications.
4) Twisting of the enlarged, overstimulated ovary (torsion) can occur in about
1% of cycles. The ovary is cut off of its blood supply, causing abdominal pain,
and surgery may be required to untwist the ovary or possibly remove it.
5) The possible risk of ovarian cancer. There is controversial undetermined
data associating fertility medications and ovarian cancer. The risk is probably
related to continued ovulation in infertility patients and appears to return
to baseline risk with pregnancy. Unfortunately, the risk may be increased if
no pregnancy occurs. Pregnancy and the use of birth control pills, which prevent
ovulation, decrease the risk. Certainly, no definitive answer is available and
further research is ongoing.
5. Will I go into menopause sooner on fertility medications?
Each month, hundreds of follicles in the ovary begin stimulation but only
one goes onto full maturity and ovulation. The other follicles undergo a natural
cell death. Fertility medications stimulate follicles that would have otherwise
not developed to maturity and does not accelerate the onset of menopause.
6. Why would I need a laparoscopy?
Your gynecologist will have you undergo testing to determine the possible
cause of infertility. Unfortunately, 20% of couples experience unexplained infertility.
This diagnosis can only truly be made after a laparoscopy which is an outpatient
same day operative procedure. Laparoscopy inserts a telescope through the belly
button into the abdomen to view the internal pelvic reproductive organs. This
procedure will allow a definite diagnosis of pelvic adhesions, tubal scarring
or blockage, endometriosis, or other abnormalities. These problems could contribute
to infertility and may be treated at the time of the surgery.
7. What is a hysterosalpingogram (HSG)?
During an evaluation for infertility, 40% of couples are found to have a female
factor which commonly is tubal blockage or ovulation disorder. In order to assess
the fallopian tubes, an HSG is performed. An HSG is an office procedure in which
an X-ray is taken while contrast dye is instilled through the cervix into the
uterus and tubes. The patient is awake and can often watch the monitor with the
physician to see the results of the study.
8. How do I know when I am ovulating?
Approximately 25% of couples experience infertility due to an ovulation disorder.
The easiest way to determine if and when a woman is ovulating is by a home urine
test. This method detects the hormonal surge of ovulation and when positive will
predict ovulation over the next 25 to 30 hours.
9. What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)?
IUI is the use of husband or donor sperm to inseminate into the uterus. The
semen sample is washed, prepared and then placed into the uterus by passing a
small plastic catheter through the cervix. This is an office procedure and is
usually associated with no discomfort. The procedure places a large concentration
of sperm into the upper uterus so they are closer to the fallopian tubes where
they travel to fertilize an egg.
10. What is the relationship between fertility and age?
A woman is born with all of the eggs she will ovulate in her lifetime. Until
puberty, the eggs are resting at a certain stage of development. Beginning with
the first menses (menarche), hundreds eggs are stimulated each month but only
one egg will complete development and ovulate, the rest will regress.
As a woman ages, the number of eggs diminish. This explains the studies of
women demonstrating a consistent decline in reproductive capacity beginning approximately
around ages 33-35. There is a more marked decrease after age 40 due to older
and less responsive eggs. In addition to the monthly decline in pregnancy, there
is an increase in miscarriages and genetic abnormalities of the embryo with advancing
age.
Age can also affect males in terms of sexual function, frequency of sexual
relations, and sperm production. However, the semen analysis does not show significant
decline generally until after age 60.
11. What is the work-up for the male?
Since 40% of infertile couples will have a male factor, it is imperative to
evaluate the male. The initial work-up will include a history to investigate
any potential areas that could be contributing to infertility. While there is
no definitive screening test (outside of pregnancy), the best definitive screening
test for a male factor is the semen analysis. This examination of the collected
sperm evaluates most importantly count (density), motion (motility), and shape
(morphology). Based on these results, a decision may be made to proceed with
further investigation by a urologist, preferably one who specializes in male
infertility.
12. What is In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?
IVF is an assisted reproductive technology procedure whereby fertilization
of the egg and sperm occur in the laboratory or 'in-vitro.' The woman receives
stimulation with one of the injectable fertility medications (gonadotropins,
discussed above). When the ovaries contain multiple mature eggs, she then undergoes
a minor procedure under sedation to retrieve the eggs by placing a needle through
the vagina into the ovary under ultrasound guidance. Approximately 4 to 6 hours
later, sperm are added to each of the eggs and then checked for fertilization
the next day. The embryos are transferred to the uterus 3-5 days after the 'retrieval'
procedure. A pregnancy test is taken 2 week later.
13. When should I be referred to a fertility specialist?
This is an excellent question but one that is very individualized depending,
most importantly, on the diagnosis, female age, patient motivation level and
financial resources. In general, after the gynecologist has performed an initial
work-up, the patient AND the gynecologist should devise a game plan and time
line after which referral should be recommended to a Reproductive Endocrinologist
(Fertility Specialist). There are some situations where a patient should be referred
immediately to a fertility specialist, e.g. advanced reproductive age, severe
male factor, and blocked fallopian tubes.
14. What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue from the lining of the uterus implants
in other places of the body, usually in the abdomen and on the ovaries. The most
likely explanation is from reverse flow of menses of the tubes into the abdomen.
Minimal and mild cases have been shown to correlate with some decline in fertility.
More advanced stages worsen the prognosis for pregnancy, presumably due to scarring
of the tubes and ovaries. However, the exact reason for the cause is unknown.
This problem usually has no serious medical consequences although it has been
shown to correlate with pain. Interestingly, the degree of pain may be inversely
proportional to the extent of endometriosis. Treatment, which depends on the
diagnosis and symptoms of the patient, involves medical or surgical options.
Pregnancy may have a temporary beneficial effect.
Mark P. Trolice, M.D., FACOG, FACS is Director of Fertility C.A.R.E. (Center of Assisted Reproduction & Endocrinology in the Orlando, Florida area and Director of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women.
© Copyright Mark P. Trolice
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