Back to basics: Our Los Angeles fertility doctor offers a crash course in fertility 101
As teachers, students and faculty across the country prepare for the start of another school year, we’re providing our patients with a review of infertility basics. The team at Innovative Fertility Center believes you’re never too old to learn something new. Joshua J. Berger MD, PhD, our Los Angeles fertility doctor, wants to ensure that you have a foundational understanding of fertility 101 and your infertility treatment options.
Fertility 101 highlights from our Los Angeles fertility doctor
If you’ve struggled to conceive without success, you may feel overwhelmed and stressed out by the infertility treatment process. We break down key facts about infertility basics to give you a helpful overview.
1 in 8 U.S. couples will have difficulty getting pregnant. Although it may seem like no one else understands your struggles, conservative estimates suggest that 9% of men and about 11% of women of reproductive age deal with infertility. Support groups like RESOLVE may provide a community you can lean on during this difficult time.
Infertility affects both men and women. While many people believe infertility only affects women, male factor infertility is the culprit about a third of the time. Female fertility issues represent one-third of cases. The other third of cases are a combination of both female and male issues or unexplained infertility.
Age influences the odds of pregnancy. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have and reach peak fertility in their mid-to-late 20s. After age 35, a woman’s chance of conceiving drops dramatically. Sperm quality and quantity also decrease with age.
Relaxation and vacation won’t cure infertility. Because infertility is a medical condition, no amount of yoga, spa days or weekend getaways can address the issue. Your doctor can perform a full fertility evaluation to identify the causes of infertility. Consider seeking help from a fertility specialist after 12 months of unprotected sex without results (or six months if the female partner is over 35).
Turn to Innovative Fertility Center, a trusted partner in fertility care
At Innovative Fertility Center, we offer advanced infertility treatment to help our patients create the families they desire. If you’re looking for answers to your fertility 101 questions, Dr. Berger can provide the explanations you need. Contact our Los Angeles fertility doctor for more information or to schedule an appointment.