About Infertility

Infertility is defined as the inability to get pregnant after one year of trying, or 6 months if the woman is 35 or older. Women who are close to 40 (or older) may seek help from an infertility specialist after two or three months of unsuccessful attempts to conceive.

There are several causes of infertility, and most often there is more than one factor to address. In fact, male infertility is the sole cause about 20% of the time, and males contribute to infertility in 30% to 40% of cases we see. Learn more about infertility below and call us or schedule a consultation to have all your questions answered.

Diagnosing and Treating Infertility

• Causes of Female Infertility

  Causes of female infertility include problems with ovulation, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which accounts for up to one-third of female infertility cases.

  Age plays a role for women because of changing ovulation patterns, which makes it more difficult to get the timing just right. In addition, egg quality is reduced as women age. Making it harder to get pregnant and more common to miscarry.

  Hormones, including excessive stress (physical or mental), and nutrition deficiencies, are also factors that can cause ovulation problems.

  Structural problems with the fallopian tubes or uterus can prevent a woman from conceiving, especially if endometriosis is a concern.

• Causes of Male Infertility

  Typical causes of male infertility are low sperm count and abnormalities that affect sperm production, transport, or delivery.

  Varicoceles, or enlarged veins (similar to varicose veins) within the scrotum, are a common cause of sperm production problems, affecting 40% of men who are infertile.

  Men are not immune to hormone imbalances either. Too much estrogen or low testosterone can cause infertility.

  Infections, certain medical conditions, and chemotherapy or radiation treatment can also lead to male infertility.

Evaluating Infertility

Diagnosing infertility starts with a complete medical history and physical examination. We recommend both partners receive an infertility evaluation because there is usually more than one cause for infertility. We will work to identify the cause of infertility with a series of tests before deciding how to treat the male, female, or couple.

Assessments may include:

• Anti-sperm antibody tests
• Genetic testing
• Hormone evaluation
• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
• Post-ejaculation urinalysis

• Specialized sperm function tests
• Sperm and semen analysis
• Testicular biopsy
• Ultrasound
• Vasography to check for blockage of the vas deferens (in males)

Infertility Treatments

First, basic infertility testing is done to check the number and quality of eggs and sperm, measure hormones levels, and investigate any structural problems in the reproductive tract. We can also perform genetic testing to rule out any risk of genetic abnormality. Once we know the cause(s) of infertility, we can set up a treatment plan or do more testing if needed.

• For women, treatment may include:

  • Medication or hormone therapy to stimulate ovulation
  • Surgery to fix a structural problem or treat a medical condition
  • Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI)

• For men, treatment may include:

  • Medication or hormone therapy to increase testosterone/reduce estrogen
  • Minimally invasive surgery to correct a varicocele or other blockage
  • Additional diagnostic testing and treatment by a urologist

You may try other assisted reproductive technologies (ART), or perhaps consider surrogacy or adoption if it is not biologically possible to become pregnant. Some people also opt for cryopreservation of eggs or sperm for various reasons, including cancer.

Trying to Get Pregnant? Our Miami Infertility Specialist Can Help

For a consultation with Dr. Hernandez-Rey or Dr. Karipcin, call Conceptions Florida today at (305) 446-4673 (HOPE). You can also use our online form and we will call you to schedule a consultation.

We see men, women, and couples, including same-sex couples, from throughout Miami-Dade County and South Florida. We also welcome international patients and can assist in coordinating your visit. Call us toll-free at 1-800-FERTILE.