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The time has come. You’re ready to expand your family and have a baby. But the problem is you’ve been having regular sex, and month after month, the pregnancy test keeps coming out negative. Even though you track your ovulation and have been following a healthy lifestyle, you still haven’t gotten pregnant.
By this time, the question of infertility has crossed your mind. If that is the case, don’t worry because you are not alone. In fact, in the United States, 10% to 15% of couples are infertile, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“The chance of getting pregnant, even for a young healthy couple, is not more than 20 percent, or one in five, every month,” Dr. Alan Copperman, M.D., director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, told The New York Times.
To help you know if it’s infertility or something else, we'll cover the symptoms, what you can do, and different infertility treatments.
What are the symptoms of infertility?
Before we dive into the symptoms of infertility, let’s talk about its criteria. According to the CDC, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex.
While people with uteruses carry the pregnancy, getting pregnant takes two. It’s important to keep in mind anyone can experience infertility regardless of sex or gender. Healthline lays out the most common symptoms of infertility for each party involved:
Female infertility
- Periods: When your period is irregular, heavy, or non-existent, it may be a symptom of infertility. These irregularities also might be pointing to hormonal imbalances or other reproductive conditions.
- Painful sex: Aside from the obvious, painful sex can be a symptom of more complex conditions that impacts your fertility like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS, and more.
Male infertility
- Testicular irregularities: Because the testicles are where sperm are housed, irregularities can be cause for concern. For example, any pain or swelling as well as small or firm testicles could be related to infertility.
- Hormone levels: Irregular hormone levels can impact everything from the desire to preform to sperm health sperm count.
Struggling with infertility? Here’s what to do
As previously mentioned, infertility affects many people. So if you feel like you’re struggling with infertility, what should you do? Start off by making an appointment with your OBGYN and expressing your concerns.
“Seek an evaluation with a reproductive endocrinologist as soon as you can," reproductive endocrinologis Dr. Amanda Adeleye told UChicago Medicine. "Typically, the first steps will involve a visit to the doctor, blood tests, a pelvic ultrasound, and a semen analysis.”
You can do a few things at home before seeing a reproductive endocrinologist to rule out bad timing — things like tracking your menstrual cycle and having regular sex when ovulating. You can also take your basal body temperature (BBT).
“We tried on our own for a year using BBT every day and tracking my cycle to try during the optimum window. When after a year of deliberate trying and no success, I called a reproductive endocrinologist for an appointment," mom of two Sarah E. told Mom.com. "We both were tested for multiple things and were officially diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis after surgery. I have had several more surgeries since and still deal with it, but it was a relief to finally find a reason why I was not getting pregnant."
How do you test for infertility?
After speaking with your provider, they may recommend additional testing. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the following typically occurs.
- Lab work: This includes blood work, urine, and semen samples to check for hormone and sperm levels.
- Imaging: This will look at reproductive organs to ensure their health and regularity.
- Procedure: If lab work or imaging indicates conditions like endometriosis or PCOS, your provider may schedule a procedure to correct the issue.
What are different ways to treat infertility?
While there is no cure for infertility, there are different ways to treat infertility through medical intervention as well as holistic options.
Medical intervention treatments
Different treatments like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be recommended to assist you with getting pregnant.
Natural ways to improve your fertility
Both male and female partners are encouraged to clean up their diet and avoid things like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Getting in regular exercise is also recommended as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Male partners can take medicinal herbs like fenugreek or ashwagandha to potentially increase fertility health as well as overall health.
“When your body doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do, it is very frustrating,” DiBenedetto said. But in the end, “it worked out as it feels like it should have.”
