INFERTILITY DIAGNOSIS

Age
Females are born with a certain number of eggs. As a woman ages, the number of eggs, as well as the quality of the eggs, declines. As a result, a woman over 35 years old has a lower chance of getting pregnant and a much higher chance of having a miscarriage or a baby with congenital problems (such as Down’s syndrome) than a younger woman does.

Endometriosis
The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. During menstruation, this lining is shed both through the cervix (seen as menstrual blood) and back through the fallopian tubes where the uterine lining cells and blood drip into the pelvis. Endometriosis occurs when some of these cells continue to grow outside of the uterus. The cells can attach to the fallopian tubes, intestines, ligaments supporting the uterus, and the ovaries. Sometimes large cysts are formed. Endometriosis is a chronic, progressive condition.

Ovulatory Dysfunction
Regular menstrual cycles with failure to ovulate or irregular menstrual cycles.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is a disorder associated with ovulation problems. Commonly the ovaries are enlarged and contain many small cysts (fluid-filled sacs). PCOS is estimated to affect about 5% of women in the U.S.

Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Diminished ovarian reserve for reproduction is a term used to describe ovaries that no longer contain eggs that can reliably produce a successful pregnancy. It is usually, but not always, associated with advanced reproductive age (female >35 years old).

Tubal Disease
Tubal disease refers to fallopian tubes that have been damaged. Approximately 25% of infertility in women is caused by damaged tubes.

Unexplained Infertility
Unexplained infertility is the diagnosis applied to couples who have no identifiable cause for their infertility after a comprehensive infertility evaluation. It implies that a thorough diagnostic evaluation has failed to reveal any specific cause or factor to cause the infertility. Some women with this diagnosis may be able to conceive without any further treatment. The incidence of unexplained infertility is estimated at approximately 15% to 20% of all couples who undergo a standard infertility evaluation. Although infertile women, older than 35 years, with no identifiable cause for their infertility are assumed to have "old eggs" as the reason for their infertility, often these patients are treated as if they had unexplained infertility.

Premature Ovarian Failure
Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. If menopause happens before the age of 40, it is called premature ovarian failure, or early menopause.

Hyperprolactinemia
Hyperprolactinemia is a disorder in which the pituitary gland in the brain produces too much of the hormone prolactin.

Thyroid Disorder
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is a hormone produced in the brain that stimulates the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck and is involved in metabolism.

Male Factor Infertility
To be fertile, a man must be able to deliver an adequate quantity of normal sperm to a woman's vagina. Various factors can interfere with this process, causing infertility.