Infertility Specialist

What causes infertility?

Infertility, defined as the inability to conceive a baby while actively trying for one year or more, has a wide range of potential causes. Because the process of getting pregnant is quite complex, many different factors can make it difficult. Some of the causes of infertility may include:

• Problems with the woman's menstrual cycle
• Abnormal shape of the uterus
• Problems with the man's sperm
• Problems with hormone levels
• Lack of ovulation
• Obstructions of the fallopian tubes
• Genetic conditions that limit pregnancy

In addition, some women who struggle to conceive may have no clear underlying cause.

How is infertility diagnosed?

When a couple comes to Dr. Burt with fertility struggles, his goal is to find the underlying cause of infertility to recommend treatment. This involves physical examination, ultrasound examination of the reproductive organs, sperm samples, health history, and blood work. After finding an underlying cause, Dr. Burt will recommend a course of treatment tailored to the woman's individual needs.

What infertility treatments are available?

Infertility treatment will be based on the underlying cause of infertility if one is found. If the problem is with the male partner, he should visit a urologist for treatment. For female infertility, Dr. Burt offers a number of treatment options. Some of these include:

• Medication
• Artificial insemination
• Assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization
• Surgery

If no surgery is required to remove obstructions, Dr. Burt typically recommends a less invasive, less costly treatment first; then if that is unsuccessful, he will move on to the more invasive or costly options. In other words, he'll likely recommend fertility treatment medications first before recommending the more costly IVF.

How successful is fertility treatment?

While no form of fertility treatment has a 100% success rate, Dr. Burt has a good track record of helping infertile couples successfully conceive. The success rate of fertility treatment depends largely on the mother's age. For women under age 35, approximately 80% who start fertility treatments will conceive within five years. After age 35, approximately 61% will find success in the same time frame.

If you're struggling to conceive, the sooner you visit Dr. Burt to discuss your options, the greater your chance of success. Schedule an appointment to discuss fertility treatments today, and learn what your options are to grow your family.