Dr. Phillip Romanski, MD, MSc

Infertility is recognized as a medical condition by the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as many other professional societies including the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).^i,ii,iii,iv

Estimates of infertility frequency vary worldwide and even differ depending on the way data is collected. Prevalence is the term used to describe how common a medical condition is in a particular population. According to the U.S. National Survey of Family Growth, the prevalence of infertility in married heterosexual women aged 15 to 49 is approximately 19.4 percent.^v Estimates in the U.K. for a similar population were 12.5 percent.^vi Some studies indicate that the prevalence of male infertility is 10 to 15 percent, but these estimates may not be accurate due to the lack of quality evidence.^vii

Hypothyroidism can play a role in fertility problems. That means females going through in vitro fertilization (IVF) should be aware of the symptoms of hypothyroidism and possible treatments.

For patients going through in vitro fertilization (IVF) or any type of fertility treatment, the clinic will build a comprehensive plan to examine all risk factors, health conditions, and reproductive issues that may interfere with the patients’ ability to conceive. Much of this plan will be related to the form and function of the female reproductive system, and the uterine lining (also called the endometrium or endometrial lining) is one part of the reproductive system that will be assessed.

The endometrial lining changes in thickness and appearance in response to the changing hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle; therefore, it is part of the assessment for how a patient is responding to fertility treatment.

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are both disorders involving thyroid function. But where hypothyroidism involves an underproduction of thyroid hormone, hyperthyroidism (also called overactive thyroid) causes the body to produce too much thyroid hormone. Typically, changes in weight as well as an increased heartbeat are apparent. Some people also experience problems with fertility and issues during pregnancy.

Egg donation is a process by which a fertile female donates her eggs (oocytes) to another individual or couple who want to conceive a baby. There are several steps involved in the decision to use donor eggs, and many more things to consider once the choice has been made. For anyone thinking about using donor eggs, it is important to understand the details around how egg donation works and how to find an egg donor. Being aware of egg donation success rates is also key.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) refers to an infection of the female reproductive system. It can occur without symptoms but may also cause mild to severe pelvic pain. In rare cases, PID can lead to chronic complications.ⁱ It is also a risk factor for female infertility.

Understanding what causes PID and how it is treated can help individuals avoid the long-term complications related to the disease.

Menopause is a natural process all females will eventually go through as they reach middle age. During menopause, the ovaries stop releasing eggs, menstrual periods become less frequent and eventually cease, and hormones such as estrogen and progesterone decrease. While menopause marks the end of fertility, there is still a chance to get pregnant during menopause — either naturally or through fertility treatments.

Endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA, previously known as endometrial receptivity array) is a diagnostic tool intended to determine how “receptive” the maternal uterine lining (also called the endometrium) is to implantation of a transferred embryo.^i,ii ERA specifically evaluates the expression of genes involved in endometrial receptivity during a period of time called the window of implantation (WOI). The results are then used to determine whether a patient should have a frozen embryo transfer with standard timing, or if the timing needs to be adjusted to account for an atypical, or “displaced,” window of implantation — a process known as personalized embryo transfer (pET).

Endometriosis is a medical condition that affects millions of females worldwide, many of whom may develop endometriosis at an early age. Not only can endometriosis lead to severe pain (including very painful menstrual cramps) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), but it can also negatively affect fertility. Many reproductive-age females who have not been formally diagnosed with endometriosis may not realize that they have the condition until they experience challenges as they attempt to conceive children.

In order to recognize and subsequently treat endometriosis, it is critical to first understand the various types of endometriosis symptoms, surgical therapies, and fertility treatments available. Due to medical advances, there are treatments to effectively manage and treat endometriosis pain. In some cases, the most effective treatments are minor surgical procedures.

Sperm donation is a process in which a fertile male donates semen (ejaculatory fluid containing sperm) that can be used by an individual or couple wanting to have a baby. An understanding of how sperm donation works, what its success rates are, and why people might opt to use sperm donation, are helpful in determining how that fertility journey might look.