50 percent of the time women are the root cause of infertility between couples with the man sharing 30 percent of probable cause. 30-40 percent of the time the burden of “fault” is shared between the man and the woman.

As men age, the impact of the added years is not associated to a man’s fertility or infertility. But for women, age plays a big role in her ability to conceive and get pregnant. Women 35 and up have a slimmer chance to get pregnant than women who are younger than that age threshold. When the age 35 is stretched further to 40-45 years, the chance for pregnancy gets even slimmer. The cause behind this consistent observation is not yet known but fertility specialist suspects it has got to do with the woman’s aging reproductive system and its inability to keep its needed “vitality” to maintain the optimum capacity to ovulate, fertilize and “grow” the embryo.

The infertility problem is magnified with the many risk factors that people tend to expose themselves to everyday. Examples of these are obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, infections from sexually transmitted disease (STD) and many more. These risks are commonly seen in younger and younger generations and this might worsen the current problems with fertility. Unless people will learn not to take for granted the gift of procreation, the problem will persist even in the midst of cutting edge treatment.

Though doctors and gynecologists can help you in the initial evaluation of infertility problems, they are sometimes not equipped with the right experience and expertise they need to make a sound diagnosis and offer advance, specific treatment for infertility. An infertility specialist is someone who had a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. This field is beyond obstetrics and gynecology. It specifically specializes in the practice of making babies in the midst of difficulties of doing just that.

There are questions behind going to a reproductive endocrinologist. One such concern is the cost. Fortunately, getting the professional and medical services of infertility specialists is not the costly factor.

The financial hurdles come from the treatment you need after the diagnosis. Drugs, surgery and assisted reproductive technologies are not cheap. In vitro fertilization or the IVF for example can reach up to $12,000. Sometimes it pays to ask what these amounts mean. Inquiries are important to clear out costs that are either included or not included in the amount. The last thing you would want is to pay more than what you expect.

There are a number of considerations before seeing a specialist. If you are a woman who had a blocked fallopian tube/s, had an ectopic pregnancy, presently diagnosed with PCOS, elevated day 3 FSH and aging 38 and up, then you are in dire need of a reproductive gynecologist. For males, less than 10 million per ml sperm concentration or with less than 40% motility is a prompt to go to a specialist. You do not need to have all these. It only takes one of these to consult to an infertility specialist.

The “world” of infertility is wide and opinions, doubts and conflicting studies abound. Magnified by your personal struggle, infertility is sometimes too much for you to bear. An infertility specialist can help you gain a better insight and can give you tangible hope to push through and try harder. Success might just be up ahead.

Friends and families, even reproductive specialists can only do so much in helping you go over the stress and even depression that entails the battle with infertility. This is where infertility support groups come into the picture. The group, though consisting of strangers and random people can dramatically help you. They have what your relatives and friends and even doctors don’t – the reality of infertility in their lives.

Infertility support groups are a number of men and women who share the same problems, issues and personal concerns with each other. They meet (usually numbering from 10-15 people) and discuss pertinent information and share valuable resources into overcoming their common problems. There are different support groups for different struggles such as eating disorders, substance abuse and various addictions.

Infertility support groups are joined by people who are in the midst of an infertility concern or issue. The levels of their concerns may be different from each other. The people who attend these groups are individuals and couples and sometimes a whole family struggling with infertility one way or the other.

Empathy is an important factor in support groups dealing with infertility. Understanding of the situation and experiencing it firsthand helps a lot in expressing feelings freely among each other. Positive feelings are reinforced in these groups, teaching the power of hope to overcome doubts that is quite common in the ups and downs of treatments. Perhaps the best part of these groups is the long term friendships you can build with the people in it, even long after you have hurdled the struggle with infertility.

Finding infertility support groups is easy as these groups have affiliates in almost every city. Your health care providers would also know some of these groups and can help you establish contact with them. Your infertility specialist can also assist you in locating and joining such groups. Hospitals and other health care establishments have posts and information on them.

The tests are different for men and women. Infertility happens even if only one of the couple have a fertility problem. In the UK, females accounts for 50% of the cause of infertility in couples. 25% of that is caused by males while 25% of the infertility cases remain unexplained. It is important to establish findings and make appropriate actions from these. It eliminates guesswork and unnecessary expenses when treatment starts.

The first step in finding out if there is really something wrong is for you to go to a doctor. The doctor will perform some tests and find out in basic levels why pregnancy is not achieved. If the doctor finds it necessary, he can refer you to an intertility clinic that has a number of specialists to cater better to your fertility concerns.

The when for seeking treatment (testing and diagnosis) is when a young healthy couple with the woman not over 34 in age have been trying to get pregnant for 12 months without contraception. This condition can signify that you are either subfertile, or infertile. Also if a woman over the age of 35 has been trying to get pregnant for six months without contraception, this is enough reason for her to get tested. Women at this age tend to produce lesser eggs.

For men, the mainstay testing is the semen analysis. In this test the quality and quantity of the semen is analyzed. The semen is the fluid that contains the sperm released during ejaculation. Sometimes blockage in the sperm ducts can contribute to low quality semen. This test is sometimes called sperm count. Other testing for the men is the blood testing where doctors and specialists can see the testosterone levels.

For women, there are a number of infertility tests. The first is blood testing to check for various hormone levels. Laparoscopy may also be performed that checks the health of your uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. This is usually performed under general anesthesia. Hysterosalpingograpgy is also done to examine your fallopian tubes and uterus. The results of this test can be basis for surgery.

The first question anybody would want to ask is signs and symptoms of infertility. Sadly time could only really tell the one definite sign of infertility – failure to get pregnant. Time and age is key in determining fertility. If the couple is young with the woman’s age not more than 34 and both of them having regular, contraceptive free intercourse for a year yet fail to get pregnant, then there is something wrong. If the woman is 35 and up and having contraceptive free intercourse for six months that is reason already to consult to a doctor. As women age, their egg production also decreases. There may be no real and tangible signs other than that. Sometimes deep pain during intercourse can point to infertility (as a result of Endometriosis). For men it could be as subtle as having not enough sexual drive (as a result of low testosterone levels).

What are the risk factors associated with infertility? There are so many things that could go wrong in your body without a hint of intent from you. But there are also many things you do that can predispose infertility. Smoking is known to significantly affect the sperm quality in men. Too much alcohol, obesity, too much caffeine intake and excessive exercise can also be risks into infertility.

How about testing and diagnosis? For men there is the semen analysis (sometimes called sperm count), blood testing (to find out testosterone levels), and the physical exam. For women blood testing can also be done (to check hormone levels and detect conditions like PCOS), laparoscopy, basal body temperature and Hysterosalpingograpgy.

Treatment for infertility is a big world of natural remedies, lifestyle changes, medications and drugs and even cutting edge science methods. Drugs like Clomiphene can help women induce ovulation, while some drugs help in producing more sperms in men. Assisted reproductive technology is also there to facilitate more complex (and expensive) pregnancy, the most common example is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) that involves egg production stimulation, harvesting of eggs, fertilization outside the body, re insertion of embryos, pregnancy and live birth. Though these treatments are heard to produce healthy babies, success rates are still marginal, at about 20%.

Fertility questions are important to raise awareness, correct misconceptions and encourage hope to couples who are trying hard to have a baby.

Infertility services are maintained as prevalence is as high as one in every six couples in America. It is also steadily moving forward. There are a number of controversies surrounding these kinds of services but halting it for that sole reason is indeed a very big loss. Infertility and the things that is associated with it are meant to be controversial as it operates in the very origin of life.

There are of course still unconquered fields. Testing and diagnosis is still having a hard time catching up with the 15% of the unknown cases of infertility. The plain truth is that 15% of the time something is wrong but as far as testing technology is concerned, nothing is wrong.

Testing services covers sperm analysis and blood tests for men, laparoscopy, x-ray in the ovaries and fallopian tubes, ovary analysis and many more for women. These tests have proven themselves to pinpoint with certainty the problem areas. Treatments for these diagnosed “wrongs” are also available.

Treatments are generally divided into three; medication or drugs, surgery and assisted reproductive technology. These are sometimes used together to provide good results and stretch the probability of success to induce pregnancy. This makes testing and diagnosis almost the cornerstones of the infertility practice.

Drugs are used to encourage egg production, its release and ovulation for the women. For men, drugs are use to help in sperm production. Surgery on the other hand is used on cases such as severe endometriosis. This procedure is often accompanied by drugs that can help to fertilize an egg after the operation. ART is used on special cases where natural fertilization is impossible, beyond the reach of surgery to correct abnormalities even with drugs.

Infertility services are important for individuals and couples who wish to have a baby of their own. Without it, the possibility of procreation is beyond the reach to people who would make the best parents in the world.

Acupuncture is the introduction of sterilized ultra thin needles into exact acupuncture points in the body which rests on meridians or channels. Meridians are paths inside and outside the body. When a needle is inserted into these pathways, body functions are regulated.

People are asking if acupuncture can treat infertility. The answer to that are a yes and a no. Yes, because acupuncture is proven to increase the chance of pregnancy after performing assisted reproductive technology like the in vitro fertilization. NO, because at some point, it is not a standalone treatment. There are of course conflicting studies that acupuncture can result to pregnancy even without any other treatment (drugs, surgery or ART) but the numbers to these results are way below what it statistically acceptable.

Nevertheless, acupuncture can significantly improve functions in the ovary and stimulate follicular functions that may be the reason that pregnancies happened just only with acupuncture and other natural remedies.

There are risks in using acupuncture during the time of pregnancy but these are very minimal. There are specific acupuncture points that should be avoided. Miscarriages happen as a result of needling on critical points. This also magnifies the need for a board certified, licensed acupuncturist that do not only hold such credentials but also have a firsthand experience with using acupuncture in treating fertility problems.

The “finish line” of acupuncture is when the risk of miscarriage is very minimal, like after 12 weeks of the pregnancy. Acupuncture helps dramatically (when done correctly) to ensure that the embryo from the IVF is secured in the walls of the uterus. This is the key in ensuring pregnancy and the chance of that to actually result to live birth.

Acupuncture and infertility is a good pair. Considering the support acupuncture provides for infertility treatments, it is worth using all throughout the treatment. In the expanse of infertility, every little and subtle improvement in the chances for pregnancy are taken into consideration. The goal of fertility efforts is to procreate and give life. Every inch of help is considered priceless.

The stake is high and picking the right center for you is very important. The considerations are first and foremost, physical. The methods used by these centers are sometimes invasive and might involve hormonal treatments. It can also be a financial struggle. Not all of health insurance companies pay for the whole course of treatments. And third but not the least, it is an emotional battle. It is a tough battle that involves failures and successes and compromises. Without emotional strength, it gets overwhelming and you might drop short of the finish line. That is the last thing you want to happen.

Information about existing centers is the first thing you should research about. Success rates are good numbers to start with, but further research can let you have a glimpse of the center’s turnover rates and the ethical values they dearly hold. Quality of work is also one of the major considerations you have to look into. Don’t stop asking questions about the centers you have initially chosen.

There are many centers in the US, some of them existing for many years already. But to get a better perspective, you can rely on statistics to have an initial look at their track record. The Centers for Disease Control keeps a database for success rates. This is an often good place to start. If high success rate is your only primary consideration that can seriously limit your search. So it would be better to cast your net wider and consider those infertility centers that have success rates above the national average.

Having the best infertility center for you is more than just research, success rates and finances. It should also be a place where you find yourself comfortable and at home. The intangible considerations are sometimes important too as you undertake one of the biggest challenges of your life.

Infertility yoga, or sometimes called fertility yoga is a kind of yoga that focuses on balancing the systems of the body to correct certain abnormalities that might be causing infertility. It is sometimes quizzical how a yoga posture can help in making babies, but in a more detailed explanation, the concept is understandable.

A number of couples (undocumented cases) have reported that they were able to overcome infertility through yoga. Going beyond physical issues, yoga is known to boost emotional health by eradicating negative and destructive thoughts and feelings.

Infertility is sometimes all about fear of the unknown, self degradation and the fear of being rejected by a spouse, friend, family and society as a whole. This build pressure on the couples and even individuals to a point that infertility is almost inflicted with intent. The breathing techniques in yoga provide much needed oxygen thereby providing a “sacred” time to think clearly and go beyond present circumstance.

Yoga is not just about back breaking forms and postures, but it is also physiologically functional, either improving blood flow to a certain organ, or stimulation of glands to help in striking the right balance of hormones in the blood.

Infertility yoga is a good support for couples undergoing infertility issues. More than the front of medicince and tangible, well proven methods in treating infertility is the emotional backbone of individuals who are carrying the burden of fertility problems. Stress and emotional vulnerability is an integral part in any physical struggle. Without managing your body in and out, the positive effects of treatments and medical procedures are limited.

Infertility hits one in every seven couples in the US today. That may not be enough to consider it as a national crisis but these statistics do add up. Fertility problems are not a joke. People are meant to procreate and children are often seen as the glue in a marriage, well most of the marriages. Without having a child through years and years of trying can definitely cause some strain in the relationship. It is one of the most painful reasons for a divorce. Couples as two individuals are usually devastated after a separation due to infertility. The search for infertility clinics that can give couples a shot at having kids is an important undertaking.

Just when can you say that it is time to find an infertility clinic? The symptoms for infertility should be enough to help you in deciding when. Timing is crucial. Your health insurance may not be able to pay for the whole course of treatments. The costs will be charged to your own pocket, all the more making the decision in picking clinics very important.

Let’s face it, getting into an infertility clinic is not as easy as it seems. The best thing you can do is to get informed first. The high technology approaches that these clinics do are sometimes too hard to bear for some people. Be sure you can survive the onslaught of procedures and its costs. And this is not only a physical and financial battle. It will also involve your emotions. If you are not ready and unable to toughen yourself in the midst of the treatments (or before it), then you might run short of the race.

Research and research some more. That is the first thing you have to do. The high success rate of an infertility clinic should not be enough to satisfying your search. Ethics, integrity and commitment to quality are three very important qualities of a good clinic. To start off in your search, look up the success rates of infertility clinics in the database of the National Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. If you think you have found your clinic, ask questions about it.

Infertility clinics are specialized places that can facilitate a successful conception. It might just be the one place that can give you a hope for pregnancy. But this is not for everybody. Consider it carefully.