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Infertility

Infertility services offered in Burlington, MA

Trying for a baby without success is distressing and frustrating. If you experience trouble conceiving, visit Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. in Burlington, Massachusetts. The practice’s experienced doctors help find the cause of infertility and offer treatments that improve your chances of conceiving. Call Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. or book an appointment online today for compassionate infertility care.

Infertility Q & A

What is infertility?

Infertility means having difficulty conceiving a child. Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. recommends that women who haven’t become pregnant after trying for 12 months should seek fertility advice. If you’re 35 or over, wait no more than six months before getting help.

Experiencing problems conceiving doesn’t mean you can’t have a baby. Some infertility problems are things you can resolve with your gynecologist’s support. You might benefit from assisted reproductive technology (ART) options like in vitro fertilization (IVF) if you have more serious infertility issues. 

Infertility is by no means just a female problem, so your partner needs to undergo an infertility evaluation, too. A low sperm count, damaged or abnormal sperm, and many other issues can affect male fertility.

What causes female infertility?

Ovulation problems are the most frequent cause of female infertility. Ovulation occurs each month after puberty until menopause at around 50. Your ovaries release an egg midway through your menstrual cycle, but unless it’s fertilized, the uterine lining sheds (menstruation), and the cycle starts again. 

If you have an ovulation problem, there’s no egg for sperm to fertilize, so you can’t conceive. Many hormonal birth control methods work by preventing ovulation. 

Irregular menstruation and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affect ovulation. Endometriosis, which can cause fallopian tube scarring, and uterine fibroids (noncancerous growths) can sometimes cause infertility too.

Leading an unhealthy lifestyle can also influence fertility. A poor diet might mean you lack essential vitamins and minerals, have excess body weight, or don’t produce enough of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Stress can have a considerable impact on fertility, especially when not conceiving is the cause of your anxiety.

What should I expect from an infertility evaluation?

Your Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. provider begins your infertility assessment by reviewing your medical and gynecological history. They ask what you’re doing to encourage conception and discuss your menstrual cycle and lifestyle.

They also complete a pelvic exam to check your reproductive organs and take a blood sample to measure your hormone levels. They might perform an abdominal ultrasound scan to view the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes in more detail.

Your gynecologist then prepares a personalized fertility plan for you. This might include lifestyle changes, keeping an ovulation chart, and other methods to increase your chances of conception. Or you might benefit from medication to improve ovulation. It’s also vital to treat underlying conditions like PCOS and uterine fibroids.

Call Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. to arrange an infertility evaluation or schedule a consultation online today.