🧬 Reproductive🔴 ApplicationInfertility

Infertility: Causes and Evaluation

The failure of a couple to conceive after a year of regular unprotected intercourse, which can arise from either partner.

Key points

Infertility is the failure to conceive after about a year of regular unprotected intercourse, and the cause may lie with either partner.
In the man, the common problem is a low number or poor quality of sperm, checked by a semen analysis.
In the woman, common causes are failure to release an egg (ovulation problems), blocked fallopian tubes, and disorders of the womb.
Ovulation is checked by menstrual history and hormone tests, and the tubes are checked by imaging that shows if dye passes through.
In many couples more than one factor is present, and in some no cause is found despite full testing.

Memory trick

Infertility (no conception after ~1 year) can be either partner: man = low or poor sperm (semen analysis); woman = no ovulation, blocked tubes, womb disorders; test ovulation (hormones) and tubes (dye imaging); often mixed or unexplained.

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🧬 Reproductive🔴 ApplicationInfertility

Infertility: Causes and Evaluation

The failure of a couple to conceive after a year of regular unprotected intercourse, which can arise from either partner.

Key points

Infertility is the failure to conceive after about a year of regular unprotected intercourse, and the cause may lie with either partner.
In the man, the common problem is a low number or poor quality of sperm, checked by a semen analysis.
In the woman, common causes are failure to release an egg (ovulation problems), blocked fallopian tubes, and disorders of the womb.
Ovulation is checked by menstrual history and hormone tests, and the tubes are checked by imaging that shows if dye passes through.
In many couples more than one factor is present, and in some no cause is found despite full testing.

Memory trick

All of Obstetrics & Gynaecology More Reproductive