National Infertility Week

April 24-30 is National Infertility Week

(Fitting that this week is surgery week huh?)

In light of national infertility week I thought I'd share some facts about infertility and bust some myths. If you want to read about my journey with infertility see HERE

Primary infertility describes couples who have never been able to become pregnant after at least 1 year of unprotected sex.

Who gets it?Infertility is a medical problem. Approximately 30% of infertility is due to a female factor and 30% is due to a male factor. In the balance of the cases, infertility results from problems in both partners or the cause of the infertility cannot be explained.

What are the risk factors?

• Weight
• Age
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
• Tubal Disease
• Endometriosis
• DES Exposure
• Smoking
• Alcohol

What are the signs and symptoms?Often there are no signs or symptoms associated with an infertility problem. Listening to your body and getting regular checkups will help to detect a problem. Early detection and treatment of a problem are often critical in achieving successful pregnancy outcomes later.  

How is infertility treated?Medical technology now offers more answers and treatment options to men and women trying to conceive a child. From hormonal treatments, ovulation induction and Intrauterine insemination to more advanced technologies like in vitro fertilization, ICSI to surrogacy, egg/sperm donation and even embryo donation. 

1 in 8 women and men are diagnosed with infertility. RESOLVE and the infertility community are busting myths and telling truths about the most popular public myths and misconceptions about the disease of infertility and the different ways people build their families.

Myth 1:

If you just relax, you'll get pregnant:

BUSTED! If only it were that easy! The fact is, the vast majority of individuals who have infertility have a medical reason, not a stress-related one. Upwards of 90% of all infertility cases are caused by physical problems.  In the female partner, the major causes of infertility are absent or irregular ovulation, blocked fallopian tubes, abnormalities in the uterus, and endometriosis (a chronic painful condition where tissue from the lining of the uterus migrates into the pelvis and attaches to the reproductive organs). There has never been a study which shows that simply relaxing increases pregnancy rates.  (I've had this told to me by numerous people, even DOCTORS!!)

Myth 2:

IVF and IUI always works:

BUSTED! The success rates of these procedures vary widely with around a 41% success rate being the highest.  Not everyone who does these procedures will get pregnant unfortunately. (My record certainly is proof that IUI doesnt always work!)

Myth 3:

It's covered by insurance:

BUSTED! Most insurance companies cringe at the word "infertility".  Although some companies may cover certain procedures, medicines, and treatments, many do not cover anything. Make sure you check with your company and ask for all the details before hand. (My insurance does not cover ANY procedures, medicines, ultrasounds, etc)

Myth 3:

If you've already had a child you wont have problems:

BUSTED! Infertility does not discriminate and can strike anyone at anytime throughout the childbearing years. Secondary infertility — the inability to get pregnant naturally or carry a pregnancy to term after successfully conceiving one or more children — is very common.  Approximately 12 percent of women in the United States have secondary infertility, and it accounts for more than half of all infertility cases.

Check out the Resolve website for more myths and infertility information!