Infertility

Most people don’t think about infertility until they are ready to have a baby and it doesn’t happen after several months of trying. While 10-15% of couples are not pregnant after a year of trying, there are many effective therapies to help conceive a child. At Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida, we understand how important it is for couples to get answers about infertility, and we have many years of experience providing infertility evaluations and treatments. If you are having difficulty getting pregnant, you can request a new patient appointment online. If you are already an established patient, you can book online through the patient portal. Or you can always call (239) 432-5858 to schedule a consultation with one of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s women’s health-care providers in Fort Myers or Cape Coral.

When to seek help with infertility

We are happy to answer your questions about getting pregnant anytime, but the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers the following guidelines for when to do an infertility evaluation:

• Women under the age of 35 who are not pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse
• Women ages 35 to 40 who are not pregnant after six months of regular, unprotected intercourse
• Women over the age of 40 desiring pregnancy

If you have a history of irregular menstrual cycles, or if you have been diagnosed with a gynecologic condition that affects your fertility, you should talk with your Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida provider as soon as you decide you want to get pregnant.

Causes of Infertility

Women are most fertile through their early 30s. As women age, the number and quality of their eggs decline. After the age of 35, a woman’s fertility drops rapidly. By the age of 40, it declines every month.

Besides age, many factors can affect the fertility of both partners. 

In women, certain health issues can affect fertility, such as:

• Structural problems with reproductive organs such as scarring or blockage of the fallopian tubes from endometriosis or from past sexually transmitted infections
• A hormonal imbalance including ovulation irregularities 
• Underlying medical conditions such as abnormalities involving the thyroid or pituitary gland

In men, infertility can be caused by low sperm production, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm.  Illnesses, injuries, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices and other factors may contribute to male infertility. 

Diagnosis and treatment for infertility

Tests for infertility include lab and imaging tests and may also include exploratory laparoscopy. Imaging tests and procedures look at the reproductive organs and how they work. Laboratory tests often involve testing samples of blood or semen. 

Your expert obstetrician-gynecologist at Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida will tailor your treatment to address the underlying cause.  He or she may prescribe medication to promote ovulation or recommend minimally invasive surgery to correct a problem like endometriosis or fibroids.

You can count on your doctor at Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida to determine the cause of your infertility and to be with you every step of the way on your journey toward motherhood. To schedule an infertility evaluation, you can request a new patient appointment online. If you are already an established patient, you can book online through the patient portal. Or you can always call (239) 432-5858 to schedule a consultation with one of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s women’s health-care providers in Fort Myers or Cape Coral.