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Trouble Getting Pregnant
Tests and Procedures
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Fallopian tubes carry a woman's eggs from her ovaries to her uterus (womb). If sperm and an egg meet in the fallopian tube, the egg is fertilized. The fertilized egg then travels to the uterus and pregnancy begins. If the fallopian tubes are blocked, fertilization can't happen. Fallopian tube catheterization helps open blocked tubes to improve a woman's chances of becoming pregnant. The procedure is done by a specially trained doctor called an interventional radiologist.
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GIFT and ZIFT are two methods to help you conceive. These techniques are helpful for many who have problems with mild endometriosis, unexplained infertility, low sperm production, or sperm antibodies.
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HSG is an X-ray test used to view your reproductive organs. This can help diagnose why you are unable to get pregnant.
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Hysteroscopy is a procedure that allows your healthcare provider to see inside your uterus. Diagnostic hysteroscopy can help find the causes of problems in the uterus.
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If you're experiencing pelvic scarring, tubal damage or obstruction, male infertility, or unexplained infertility, in vitro fertilization may help you conceive.
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Pelvic laparoscopy is often used to diagnose and treat the causes of pelvic problems, such as pain and infertility.
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Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of muscle tissue on or inside the uterus. Uterine fibroid embolization shrinks a fibroid by cutting off its blood supply.
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Endometriosis is a disease that affects your reproductive organs and monthly menstrual cycle. Constant irritation may cause scar tissue to form. This scar tissue can cause infertility.
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PID is an infection of the reproductive organs. Left untreated, it can cause severe damage to the body, including infertility.
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes harmless cysts in the ovaries and also causes other symptoms. PCOS is caused by certain hormones being out of balance.
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More than half of men who have varicocele have a reduced sperm count. In many cases, sperm count improves after treatment.
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Fibroids start as pea-sized lumps, but can grow steadily during your reproductive years. Many fibroids just need to be monitored.
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Thanks to progress in medication, microsurgery and test-tube fertilization, more than half the patients who seek fertility treatment can expect a successful pregnancy.
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The triad is made up of these factors: disordered eating, disrupted menstrual cycles (missing three or more periods in a row) and osteoporosis (low bone mass).
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Special Concerns
Your Smoke-Free Pregnancy
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Smoking during pregnancy reduces oxygen and blood flow to your baby. This may cause bleeding problems that can put your pregnancy at risk.
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Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your baby. Only you can decide whether you're ready to quit.
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Having a plan helps you reach any goal. Your plan to quit smoking starts with a choice. First, pick a way to quit.
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Life may seem out of control, but you're really making progress. You're going through withdrawal, which is how your body recovers from smoking.
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Stress is one of the biggest reasons people smoke. But you can let go of stress without lighting up.
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It's a myth that being 35 or older means your pregnancy will be high risk. Making the right choices now and working with your health care provider can help your pregnancy be trouble-free.
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The fact is that most women in their 30s and 40s have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. To ensure a healthy pregnancy, you should do what any woman should do: Prepare for your baby with healthy lifestyle choices. Talk with your doctor about your risk factors and learn what you can do to prevent potential problems.
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Drinking a small amount of alcohol isn't harmful unless you are pregnant. That's because any alcohol you drink also affects your baby. Sometimes, even a small amount of alcohol may cause birth defects.
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Pregnant women with asthma are just as likely to have healthy, normal babies as women without asthma -- as long as their disease is kept under control.
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A woman's menstrual cycle (monthly period) is controlled by changing levels of certain hormones. These hormones travel through the blood. Two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, play a big role in the menstrual cycle.
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The healthy choices you make before and during pregnancy can have a lasting impact on you and your unborn child. Experts say one of the most important things a woman or couple can do is to plan for pregnancies.
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At least 90 days before starting to try to conceive, both men and women should take steps to improve their diet and exercise routines, as well as fine-tune any medications they may be taking.
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If you're planning a family, for example, you'll want to know about any benefit limitations related to prenatal care and childbirth.
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When a person is attempting to have a baby, fertile times become an important factor. Using information about your cycles will help to predict your more fertile times and when you will ovulate.
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This quiz will help you learn how smoking affects your baby.
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