Female Infertility Factors

Occasionally we hear from a couple, in which the husband, some two years or so previously, underwent a reversal. No pregnancy has occurred, and once the semen analysis is obtained and other tests of sperm function are performed, we find an excellent result from the reversal.

Female infertility factors need evaluation and treatment. We encourage obtaining the semen analysis at 3 and 6 months so that we can help couples plan further evaluation and treatment if needed.

In women of reproductive age, peak fertility is at age 25 and gradually declines to age 40. Between the ages of 40 and 42, the chance of becoming pregnant drops to 20%, and after age 42, drops to less than 5%.

Once semen parameters are known to be good, and if the woman is 35 to 40 years old, I advise couples to consider female factor evaluation if pregnancy doesn’t occur within 6 months. Women over the age of 40 should have an evaluation when the couple is considering a reversal. Ask your gynecologist to do a Day 3 FSH test – Follicle Stimulating Hormone This is testing for egg quantity and quality: Ovarian reserve.  We are seeing more women 40 and above in our practice.

Reference:
"Cost Effective Evidence Based Evaluation of Female Infertility"
Joseph A Hill, M.D., Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School; lecture given at 23rd Annual Postgraduate Program, American Society of Reproductive Medicine.