Can I get my tubes untied after a tubal ligation?

It is possible to reverse a tubal ligation after getting your tubes tied.  This tubal ligation reversal surgery, in which a surgical specialist rejoins your severed fallopian tubes, is expensive...

What is makes a fertility doctor, or an infertility specialist, different from an ob/gyn?

Fertility doctors, called reproductive endocrinologists, treat infertility as well as other reproductive issues such as hormonal disorders, menstrual irregularities, or recurrent miscarriage....

What are symptoms of ovulation?

Signs of ovulation include a change in the amount and consistency of your cervical mucus, an increase in your basal body temperature (BBT), breast tenderness, and sometimes slight cramping.  You...

Am I fertile if I get my period regularly each month?

Unfortunately, a regular period doesn’t rule out problems with fertility. Ovulation disorders, a decreased quality of your eggs – which may be related to your age, blocked or scarred fallopian tubes,...

If I have endometriosis, can I get pregnant?

Most women with mild to moderate forms of endometriosis are able to get pregnant, but those with more severe forms of endometriosis may have a greater likelihood of infertility, due to the formation...

When should I make an appointment with a fertility doctor?

Women under 35 who have tried unsuccessfully to conceive for one year should see a fertility doctor.  Women over the age of 35 should only wait six months before making an appointment with a...

Am I a candidate to freeze my eggs?

Women with certain types of cancer, whose ovarian function and eggs can be damaged by treatment, are good candidates for oocyte cryopreservation, also known as egg freezing.  Other women may...

Can my husband and I conceive after he had his vasectomy reversed?

Success rates for pregnancy vary after vasectomy reversals.  According to the American Urological Association, it takes an average of one year after the vasectomy reversal for pregnancy to...

Can stress cause infertility?

A recent study does in fact link stress to infertility. Other studies have shown that women who manage stress during infertility treatments, through support groups and mind-body groups, have higher...

What kinds of tests are performed on a couple to test for fertility?

The types of tests used to determine fertility include blood tests, to measure ovarian reserve, genetic testing for genetic defects, diagnostic tests to study the function of reproductive organs,...

What is unexplained infertility?

A fertility workup can uncover many causes of infertility. However, with unexplained infertility, doctors cannot find a medical cause to explain your inability to get pregnant.  If you have...

Are there ways to test my fallopian tubes for blockages and scars?

There are three ways to test for blockages and scarring of the fallopian tubes: hysterosalpingogram (HSG), hysterosonogram, and laparoscopy.  These tests are best performed by a fertility doctor...

What do “day-3” tests measure?

“Day-3” tests are used to describe the FSH and estradiol tests that are performed on the third day of your menstrual cycle.  The FSH test evaluates egg supply by testing the follicle-stimulating...

What is meant by an “ovarian reserve?”

Ovarian reserve refers to the quality and quantity of your egg supply, which can affect your ability to become pregnant.  If you have questions about your ovarian reserve, you should meet with a...

How often do miscarriages occur?

Miscarriages are common, and often occur before you even realize you are pregnant.  Miscarriages occur in 15 to 20 percent of pregnancies, and the likelihood increases with age.  

How can you diagnose high levels of FSH?

A Day 3 FSH test is used to diagnose high levels of FSH.  Performed on the third day of your menstrual cycle, this test can show a poor ovarian reserve or ovarian failure.  If you have...

How can I treat my high levels of FSH?

Women with high levels of FSH generally do not respond well to fertility medications.  A fertility doctor will do a complete fertility workup to help devise a fertility treatment plan for your...

Am I in menopause if I have high FSH levels?

Not necessarily. There are differences in women who have diminished ovarian reserve or premature ovarian failure (POF) and those who are in menopause.  Women with POF may still get their...

Should I consider IUI?

Women should consider IUI if they have open fallopian tubes and a normal uterine cavity.  IUI may also be an appropriate fertility treatment in some instances of male factor infertility....

If I use IUI, what are my chances of getting pregnant?

Success rates for IUI range from 5 to 2- percent, and depend upon a number of factors, including the woman’s age, the infertility diagnosis, and the quality of the man’s sperm. 

Do I have to use fertility drugs with IUI?

IUI can be performed naturally without drugs, but it is often used with fertility drugs that stimulate the production of multiple eggs.  Your fertility doctor can explain the protocol that’s...

What are the success rates of IVF?

The success rate for IVF with a woman’s own eggs averages approximately 30 percent in the U.S., as shown by 2007 data provided to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  IVF success...

Can fertility drugs cause cancer?

Studies have not shown a link between breast and ovarian cancers and fertility drugs.  Fertility drugs can cause other, less harmful side effects, so it is important you discuss this with your...

Can I get pregnant if I have uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are very common, affecting about one out of five women of childbearing age.  However, it is possible uterine fibroids can affect your fertility and make it difficult to...

What are uterine polyps?

Uterine polyps are similar to a wart or skin tag, and are very common.  They are thought to develop from an infection, inflammation, or obstruction in the cervix canal.  Most do not affect...

What are ways to treat uterine polyps?

Uterine polyps are treated through the diagnostic hysteroscopy whereby a thin, telescope-like device enables your fertility doctor to look into your uterus. During this procedure, the polyps can also...

Should I use PGD?

PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis), done during an IVF cycle, screens embryos for genetic defects, which can result in diseases like cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, sickle cell anemia,...

Should we use a sperm donor?

Candidates for sperm donors include single women, lesbian couples, or heterosexual couples in which the male is sterile, has poor sperm quality, or may pass on a genetic disorder through his sperm....

If I had a miscarriage, do I need to tests to determine the cause?

Your fertility doctor may recommend certain tests if you have had three or more consecutive miscarriages.  (Three or more miscarriages constitute infertility.) These tests can determine...

Is there any way I can lower my FSH levels?

A high FSH level usually indicates poor ovarian reserve – poor egg quality and quantity. Because your FSH level may fluctuate, a fertility doctor will test your FSH levels on Day 3 of your cycle....

Our First IVF Cycle Failed. Now what?

It can be devastating to learn you’re not pregnant after an IVF cycle. You should schedule a consultation with your fertility doctor to see if he or she can give you information as to why your IVF...

Should I Use an Egg Donor

Typically, women who use egg donation are in their late 30s to mid 40s, and have been unsuccessful with fertility treatment due to poor quality eggs or no eggs, or have delayed having children. Other...