If you’ve been actively trying to get pregnant and haven’t been successful, one thing to consider is when you’re the most fertile. Conception can only happen during your fertile window, a period of time that lasts about a week out of the month. Getting the timing right depends on understanding the difference between high fertility vs. peak fertility.

You may have been told that ovulation happens around day 14 of your menstrual cycle, but it’s not that simple. Cycles can vary as much as seven days, so your fertility window may not be when you think it is. 

Ovulation and Your Fertility Window

Ovulation is when hormone changes prompt one of your ovaries to release an egg. Once an egg is released, it must be fertilized by sperm within 24 hours for pregnancy to happen. This doesn’t mean that there’s only one day out of the month when you can get pregnant, because sperm can live for up to five days.

High fertility is the onset of the fertility window and it starts five days before ovulation. This is the time frame in which an egg could be fertilized by sperm that are living in your body for a few days. Peak fertility happens toward the end of the fertility window and refers to the two days in the month when you have the best chance of getting pregnant, which are the day you ovulate and the day before you ovulate.

Signs of Ovulation

Since increasing your chances of getting pregnant depends on having intercourse as close to ovulation as possible, it may be helpful to try to pinpoint when ovulation happens. During ovulation, some women experience cramping or bloating. There may also be an increase in basal body temperature, changes in cervical mucous or an increased sex drive.

Even if you don’t have any symptoms of ovulation, there are some things you can do that can help you to recognize your fertility window. Tracking your basal body temperature daily for several months may help you to identify a pattern. This requires a special thermometer that show two decimal places rather than one. Take your temperature daily first thing in the morning before getting out of bed and pay attention to a rise in your temperature. It may only be about half a degree. This subtle increase in temperature happens after ovulation.

Another way to pinpoint ovulation is to take an ovulation test, a test that’s available online or at a nearby drugstore. This type of test works by checking your urine for hormones. When hormones are high, ovulation is about to happen.

Timing sex around high fertility and peak fertility gives you the best chance of getting pregnant, but there’s no guarantee this will work. Infertility has many possible causes and if you’re struggling to get pregnant, it’s time to work with a fertility expert to find out what options are available that may help. Schedule a consultation at the Center for Reproductive Health today.

When you decide you want to get pregnant but aren’t able to, it’s natural to start thinking about possible reasons why you’re having trouble. If you have been on birth control for years, you may have assumed that you’d get pregnant soon after discontinuing birth control. When you don’t get pregnant after several months, you may start wondering if birth control is having a lingering impact on your body. 

Does birth control affect fertility? No matter what type of hormonal birth control you have been using, it’s not the cause of your fertility challenges even if you’ve been on it for several years. While you’re on birth control, pregnancy is prevented, but once you discontinue birth control, your hormones gradually go back to normal.

Menstrual Irregularities After Stopping Birth Control

While you’re on birth control, your periods are stable and predictable or they may disappear altogether. After discontinuing hormonal birth control, it may take a few months for your hormones to stabilize. You may experience a delay in having your periods start again and you may not ovulate right away. 

The length of the delay can be related to the type of birth control you were using. If you were using injectable contraceptives, it may take six months or longer for your hormones to stabilize. It may take three or four months for hormones to stable after coming off other types of hormonal contraceptives. Some women are able to get pregnant within the first month after stopping birth control. 

Having difficulty conceiving after discontinuing birth control is more likely to be related to age than to using birth control for a period of time. Fertility naturally declines with age so whether you ever used birth control, you’ll have a harder time getting pregnant over the age of 35 than you had when you were younger.

Problems Covered Up By Birth Control

While hormonal birth control doesn’t cause infertility, it sometimes masks conditions that can cause fertility problems. Birth control makes monthly cycles regular, which means that signs of possible problems like having irregular periods or very heavy periods may disappear while you’re on hormonal contraceptives. Then when you decide to discontinue birth control, it may become apparent something isn’t right. 

It’s natural to be concerned that something may be wrong with you if you’re unable to conceive, but infertility isn’t always caused by problems with women. It can also be caused by problems with the man or by problems with both the woman and the man.

There are many possible causes of infertility, but birth control isn’t one of them. You’re considered infertile if you’re under 35 and haven’t been able to get pregnant after a year of unprotected sex or if you’re over 35 and you’ve been unable to get pregnant after six months of unprotected sex.

The team at the Center for Reproductive Health is committed to helping people understand available treatment options for infertility.  For more information, schedule an appointment for a comprehensive examination and evaluation or call with any questions you may have.

If getting pregnant has turned out to be much more challenging than you expected, you’re not alone. As many as 1 in every 6 people who are trying to get pregnant experience infertility. In many cases, artificial insemination is the first type of assisted reproductive technology that’s recommended. 

Women considering artificial insemination often have a lot of questions about what’s involved and about the success rate of artificial insemination. The team at the Center for Reproductive Health understand how stressful and confusing infertility can be, and they’re available to answer your questions.

The Procedure

Artificial insemination is a simple and painless procedure in which sperm is placed past the cervix and directly into the uterus. In some cases, this can improve the chances of healthy sperm reaching the egg and achieving fertilization. The sperm can be from your partner or it can be from donor sperm.

In many cases, this procedure is paired with hormone stimulation. Fertility medication is taken for up to 10 days to assist in egg development. Blood tests and ultrasounds are used to predict ovulation so that the procedure can be done as close to ovulation as possible. The semen is processed to make it more concentrated, which may also increase the chance of getting pregnant.

The procedure itself only takes a few minutes. After the sperm has been injected, fertility experts may recommend that you lie on your back for around 30 minutes. You’ll be sent home after that and told to come back for a pregnancy test in two weeks. If the pregnancy test is negative, the procedure can be repeated.

Factors That Affect Success Rates

There are many factors that can affect the success rate of artificial insemination. One of the biggest factors is the age of the mother. For women in their early 30s or younger, the success rate is around 25 percent. By the mid-30s, the success rate drops to 15-20 percent. By the late 30s, it drops to 10 percent and women over the age of 40 have about a 5 percent success rate.

Artificial insemination may be a good fertility treatment option for couples struggling with male factor infertility such as low sperm count or low motility. It may also be a good option for women with thick cervical mucous or mild endometriosis, and it can be effective when the cause of infertility can’t be identified.

Is Artificial Insemination Right For Me?

For some women, artificial insemination isn’t the best choice for trying to get pregnant. If you’re over the age of 40, in vitro fertilization may be a better option. You may not be a good candidate for artificial insemination if you have pelvic scarring from repeated pelvic infections, blockage of your fallopian tubes or severe endometriosis.  

Women who have several rounds of artificial insemination without success may want to consider other options. If you’re considering artificial insemination or other forms of assisted reproductive technology, the best thing to do is to schedule a consultation at the Center for Behavioral Health to learn more.

Artificial insemination is one of the most common types of fertility treatment, and it’s one of the first types of fertility treatment your doctor may recommend if you have unexplained infertility. It may also be recommended for couples with male factor infertility which is related to low sperm count or poor sperm motility. This procedure also makes it possible for people to attain pregnancy using donor sperm.

It makes sense to gather as much information as you can about fertility treatments before making a decision on what to do next.  Those who are interested in fertility options often want to know about artificial insemination pros and cons. The knowledgeable and compassionate staff at the Center for Reproductive Health is available to answer whatever questions you may have.

Pros of Artificial Insemination

Artificial insemination is an outpatient procedure that’s safe and simple and can be done in just a few minutes. Eggs don’t need to be removed from the body, which makes it a less invasive procedure than in vitro fertilization (IVF). The sperm that’s used can be from your partner or a donor, and the sperm is washed and treated to try to enhance sperm quality before it’s implanted into the woman’s uterus. 

The purpose of the procedure is to increase the number of sperm that can travel to the fallopian tubes. Compared to other forms of assisted reproductive technology, artificial insemination has fewer side effects. It’s a less expensive form of fertility treatment since there’s less involved and fewer visits are needed. The chance of getting pregnant using this form of treatment is higher than just intercourse. 

Cons of Artificial Insemination

For some women, artificial insemination isn’t likely to work, such as women who don’t have functional fallopian tubes or women who have problems ovulating even when using hormones to stimulate ovulation. The success rates of artificial insemination are somewhat lower than IVF. 

When hormones are used for ovarian stimulation, more than one egg may be produced, which may result in getting pregnant with multiples such as twins or triplets. There’s no way to control how many eggs develop or are fertilized. Some people experience light spotting or mild cramping after the procedure has been done. There’s a rare chance of developing an infection.

There’s no guarantee of success by undergoing artificial insemination or any other type of fertility treatment. Some women undergo several rounds of artificial insemination before successfully attaining pregnancy, but it can be mentally and emotionally stressful if it doesn’t work right away.

Choosing a Form of Fertility Treatment

If you’re living with infertility, the best way to determine what form of fertility treatment might be a good choice for you is by talking to fertility experts. Reviewing your family history and undergoing medical testing may help to pinpoint the cause of infertility and the best approach to treatment.

The Center for Reproductive Health has proven high success rates in helping those who are struggling with fertility challenges. Call today with questions or to schedule a consultation.

Having your tubes tied is intended to be a permanent method of birth control. After some time passes, it’s not uncommon for women who have had a tubal ligation to have second thoughts. Questions often come up such as “Can you get artificial insemination with tubes tied?” The best thing to do when you have questions about fertility options is to set up a consultation with us at The Center for Reproductive Health.

Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation

If you’ve had a tubal ligation done, during the procedure, a surgeon blocked, closed, or removed part of your fallopian tubes. This stops sperm from being able to reach an egg that’s ready for fertilization. Since sperm can’t travel to reach the egg, artificial insemination won’t work after you’ve had your tubes tied.

If you decide you’d like to get pregnant after tubal ligation, there are a couple of options to consider. These include in vitro fertilization (IVF) and tubal reversal.

In Vitro Fertilization

IVF is a form of assisted reproductive technology that may help you successfully attain pregnancy after your tubes are tied. This involves hormonal injections to stimulate ovulation and the development of multiple eggs. Eggs are then harvested and fertilized in a lab setting where they grow into an embryo before being implanted in the uterus. This procedure bypasses the fallopian tubes which have been cut or blocked and may help you to successfully attain pregnancy.

IVF can be done with your own eggs or with eggs donated by other women. If there are issues with your partner’s sperm, donated sperm is also an option.

Tubal Reversal Surgery

Tubal reversal surgery may be an option for some women who wish to get pregnant after having their tubes tied. Whether your tubal ligation can be reversed depends on the type of tubal ligation procedure that was done and whether there are enough healthy fallopian tube segments left to successfully reconnect. The best results from tubal reversal require the remaining tubes to be 7 cm or more in length.

Before having this type of procedure, you’ll undergo a thorough physical examination and review of your medical history. Your doctor also considers your body mass index (BMI), your age, and whether you have any other conditions that may cause infertility such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids.

Considering Your Options

While many women successfully attain pregnancy after tubal ligation, there are no guarantees that either IVF or tubal reversal will be successful. If you’re under the age of 35 and opt for tubal reversal, you have between 50 and 80 percent chance of becoming pregnant within two years following surgery. The chance of success decreases with age.

It’s not unusual to feel confused when deciding which option to pursue. The knowledgeable and compassionate team at The Center for Reproductive Health can help you consider your options based on your individual situation and help you come to a decision about which choices may be best for you. Contact us today to ask questions or to schedule a consultation.

Trying to get pregnant without success can be heartbreaking. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) refers to medical procedures that are done to help achieve pregnancy by handling both eggs and sperm. These procedures can provide hope for those who have been struggling with infertility when other options haven’t worked.

The Center for Reproductive Health is a leader in the field of infertility and assisted reproductive technology. Before our fertility experts recommend a particular form of ART, you’ll undergo a consultation and a thorough examination to try to find out the cause of infertility.  Having difficulty achieving pregnancy could be because of problems with the man, woman or both. 

Types of Assisted Reproductive Technology

There are several fertility treatments that fall under the umbrella of ART and these may be recommended if fertility medications haven’t helped. Some types of ART include:

• In vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is probably the most well-known form of ART. The egg is fertilized outside the woman’s body. This is done by harvesting eggs from the mother and fertilizing them by combining them with sperm in a lab setting. After a few days, the embryos are implanted in the woman’s uterus. Prior to harvesting the eggs, hormones are given to stimulate the ovaries, helping to produce multiple eggs. A newer alternative is called mini IVF and is done by minimally stimulating the ovaries. This can lead to fewer but better quality embryos.
• Frozen embryo transfer. Embryos that aren’t used can be frozen for future use. During frozen embryo transfer, these embryos are thawed and implanted into the uterus.
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI). This procedure is commonly called artificial insemination. It’s done by processing and washing sperm to enhance sperm quality and then injecting it into the uterus as close to ovulation as possible. Ovaries may be stimulated before the procedure is done to help improve the chance of attaining a successful pregnancy. It simplifies the sperm’s journey to the egg which may solve problems with male factor infertility or mild cervical mucous.
• Intrafallopian transfer. This is a procedure that’s similar to IVF. Multiple eggs are collected from the ovaries, and the eggs and sperm are placed in the fallopian tube using laparoscopic surgery. 
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This form of treatment involves injecting a single sperm into an egg. This approach may be recommended if there’s very low sperm count.

The sperm and eggs being used for these procedures often come from the couple undergoing treatment, but donated sperm, eggs and embryos are also an option. Having a consultation with a fertility expert is the best way to find out what forms of treatment may be available to you.

The team at the Center for Reproductive Health is committed to helping couples find the best form of treatment for infertility, often with the help of ART. If you’re interested in learning more about ART, schedule an appointment for a comprehensive examination and evaluation. Call today with any questions you may have or to schedule an appointment.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) refers to types of fertility treatment in which procedures are done to improve the chance of getting pregnant that may involve handling sperm, eggs or embryos. Women or couples who have fertility challenges and are frustrated with their inability to conceive a child after a year of trying are often interested in learning what types of fertility treatments are available as well as obtaining information on assisted reproductive technology success rates.

At the Center for Reproductive Health, fertility experts are available to answer your questions. When you schedule a consultation, you and your partner have thorough examinations to try to pinpoint the cause of infertility. Once the exam and testing are done, detailed information is provided on the best type of fertility treatment for you.

In Vitro Fertilization

The most common form of ART is in vitro fertilization (IVF). This involves extracting eggs, preparing sperm and fertilizing eggs in a laboratory setting before implanting them back into the uterus. 

There are many factors that can affect the success rates of IVF. One of the biggest factors is age, and if the woman is using her own eggs, success rates decline with age. IVF success rates for women under 35 can be as high as 51%. Success rates decline rapidly with age and women over the age of 40 have a success rate of less than 13 percent.

Older women can improve their chance of success with IVF by using donated eggs for the procedure rather than using their own. If low sperm count or motility is a factor in not being able to conceive a child, donated sperm is an option that may help to improve the chance of success.

Success Rates With Other Types of ART

There are several other types of ART that may be used depending on your individual situation. Artificial insemination may be recommended if fertility challenges are related to male factor infertility, cervical mucous problems or unpredictable ovulation. Success rates of artificial insemination is approximately 25% for women in their early 30s, and success rates for this procedure also decline with age.

Frozen embryo transfer is a form of ART in which frozen embryos are thawed and implanted into the uterus. Embryos may be left over from previous IVF procedures or they may be donated. Women under the age of 35 have success rates as high as 60% when this procedure is done, while women over 40 have success rates of approximately 20%.

Considering ART

At the Center for Reproductive Health, we understand how stressful it is to wish to have a baby and face disappointment month after month. Many couples find that ART provides hope and that it makes having a baby an option for single adults or same sex couples.

If you’re considering fertility treatment, the best thing to do is set up a consultation with the experts at the Center for Reproductive Health. You’ll be provided with the best treatment options for you along with clear information that can help you make your decision. Schedule a consultation today.

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year or more without success, you may be ready to consider assisted reproductive technology. Artificial insemination is one of the most common types of fertility treatment. It’s a simple, noninvasive outpatient procedure in which sperm is inserted into the uterus using a catheter. This helps healthy sperm get closer to the egg, which improves the chances of successfully attaining fertilization.

Artificial insemination success rate can vary based on a number of factors. In general, the success rate of this procedure ranges from 7 percent to about 25 percent. Combining this procedure with fertility drugs may increase your chance of success, but success rates drop as you age. The success rate for women over 40 is around 5 percent.

How Artificial Insemination Works

Your menstrual cycle is monitored for about 12 to 14 days so that the procedure can be done when you ovulate. Monitoring is done using ultrasound and bloodwork. Fertility medicine may be given to stimulate ovulation. Sperm is donated by your partner or by a sperm donor. The sperm is washed and processed to enhance sperm quality.

The procedure is schedule once your doctor determines when ovulation will occur. It’s a painless procedure that takes a matter of minutes. Once the sperm has been injected, you may be instructed to lie on your back for approximately 30 minutes. You’ll go home after that and return for a pregnancy test in two weeks. If you aren’t pregnant, the procedure can be repeated.

Candidates for Artificial Insemination

You may be a candidate for artificial insemination if your fertility problem is related to mild endometriosis or thick cervical mucous. You may also be a candidate if your partner’s sperm has low motility or low count. Couples who have unexplained infertility are often good candidates for this procedure. 

Donor sperm may be used if your partner has a known genetic condition that you wish to avoid passing on. Artificial insemination may be a good option if a single woman wants to conceive or a same sex female couple wish to have a baby.

If you have severe endometriosis, blockage of your fallopian tubes or severe pelvic scarring from multiple pelvic infections, artificial insemination may not be a good option. Your fertility specialist may recommend in vitro fertilization in these cases, and it may also be recommended for women over the age of 40.

In Vitro Fertilization

If artificial insemination isn’t right for you, or if you’ve had several unsuccessful cycles of artificial insemination, you may want to consider in vitro fertilization. In this procedure, your eggs are harvested and combined with sperm in a lab setting and implanted in your uterus after a few days. This sometimes results in multiple births. Embryos that aren’t used can be frozen for future use.

At the Center for Reproductive Health, a compassionate and knowledgeable team is available to explain different options in assisted reproductive technology and to answer any questions you may have. Call today to schedule a consultation. 

Having difficulty conceiving a child when you’ve decided you’d like to be a parent can be heartbreaking. Infertility refers to being unable to unable to get pregnant after a year of trying. Assisted reproductive technology includes several different medical procedures that may help patients overcome fertility issues that have been interfering with conception. 

Knowing the pros and cons of assisted reproductive technology can help you make an informed decision on whether to seek treatment for your fertility challenges. The team of fertility experts at the Center for Reproductive Health can help you understand your options for fertility treatment using assisted reproductive technology.

Pros of Assisted Reproductive Technology

There are several pros of assisted reproductive technology. When you work with experts in the field of fertility, you undergo a thorough examination which may help to clearly identify the cause of your infertility. If your partner has problems such as low sperm motility or low sperm count, you may be able to use donor sperm if needed.

In vitro fertilization is a safe procedure that’s been done for more than 40 years. Extra embryos created during IVF can be frozen for future use or donated to other couples who are dealing with fertility challenges.

Assisted reproductive technology provides conception options for people who otherwise might not be able to get pregnant such as single women and same-sex female couples. The biggest pro of going through with assisted reproductive technology is that many patients do end up experiencing a successful pregnancy. Technology continues to advance which is leading to increasing success rates.

Cons of Assisted Reproductive Technology

There are some cons that it’s important to be aware of before you decide to have fertility treatment. Having this type of treatment can be expensive and isn’t typically covered by health insurance. There’s no guarantee of success and it may take multiple rounds of treatment before you’re able to get pregnant or carry a baby to term. This could end up costing several thousand dollars. When treatment isn’t successful right away, you may end up on an emotional roller coaster as you feel hopeful for a while, but your hopes may be dashed if pregnancy doesn’t happen.

As part of your treatment, you may be give fertility drugs. These drugs sometimes have unpleasant side effects, and if you do get pregnant, they may cause multiple births. Being pregnant with multiples carries a risk of health problems for either the mother or the fetuses.

Deciding Whether to Pursue Assisted Reproductive Technology

The decision on whether to undergo fertility treatment is an individual one, and you have to weigh the pros and cons of having it done. The best thing to do is get as much information as you can so that you can make the right choice for your situation.

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant without success, don’t give up hope without finding out your options. Reach out to the Center for Reproductive Health for more information or to set up a consultation.