Am I Infertile? Understanding Your Fertility Potential

Wondering, "Am I infertile?" or asking yourself, "How do I know if I'm infertile?" can be an overwhelming and isolating experience, but you’re not alone. If you've been struggling to conceive, hearing the word "infertility" from a doctor or loved one can be heartbreaking and make you feel like you're not enough.

However, understanding your fertility is a crucial step in taking control of your reproductive health. In this article, we’ll delve into the signs, symptoms, and tests that can help answer the critical question, "How do I check if I’m infertile?" Whether you’re concerned about your ability to conceive now or in the future, we aim to provide you with the knowledge to assess your fertility.

Infertility isn’t the end of your journey. There are many options available today to help you build your future family, and regardless of any conditions you may face, solutions are within reach. By the end of this article, you'll have a clearer understanding of what it means to be infertile, the factors that could lead to sterility, and practical steps you can take if you’re worried about being "sterile." R

Remember, there’s support and hope—don’t worry, we’ve got your back. 🤎

What Does Infertility Mean For A Woman?

By definition, if you’re unable to conceive after a year (or 6 months, if you’re 35+ of regular unprotected sex, you can seek a fertility diagnosis from a doctor which can then lead to treatment, options, etc.

While there could be many different causes of infertility in both men and women, the WHO and other organisations have classed it as a ‘disease’ so that anybody experiencing it can have access to proper treatment, especially under insurance.

But we like to think of infertility instead as “difficulty conceiving”.

Because there’s always a way around it, regardless of your condition, or the issue you face.

Is Infertility a male or female issue?

Theres often this question in the air, whenever discussion’s around fertility issues persist:

Am I the problem?

A huge misconception in the infertility space is that it’s a “women’s issue”, and so their treatment and investigation is highlighted more often.

In reality, the numbers actually are quite evenly split — 1/3rd is due to female reproductive factors, another 1/3rd for male factors, and the rest is due to a combination of both or in some cases, unexplained infertility.

Another important thing to know is that the ‘infertility’ diagnosis is used to refer to both the individual and the couple trying to conceive, regardless of what the underlying challenge might be. A deeper investigation can help you pinpoint the exact issue with a doctor.

Additionally, if you and your partner haven’t considered doing a semen analysis or further examination of male-presenting causes, in addition to female-presenting ones, do it now! Even if there isn’t anything visibly wrong, the core issue, whether it’s physical, mental, or just compatibility, will be much easier to identify with a complete set of data.

How is infertility diagnosed?

Like we discussed earlier, infertility can be used as an umbrella term covering a lot of different types, causes, symptoms, etc. But it’s crucial to determine the underlying causes through multi-step investigations, as that informs the treatment plan you’ll be recommended too. A few tests your doctor might recommend are:

1. Physical Examination

   This is usually the recommended first step. A physical examination can be done for both partners and can identify any obstructions like varicocele in the scrotum or uterine fibroids.

   
   

2. Pelvic Ultrasound

   A pelvic ultrasound helps rule out common causes of female infertility like abnormal growth, endometriosis, issues with IUD, etc.

   
   

3. Bloodwork

   Blood tests and comprehensive hormone panels (like our fertility test 👀) can give you an understanding if any hormone fluctuations, conditions or deficiencies are affecting your reproductive system. They might also test for any genetic conditions at this stage, if needed.

   
   

4. Semen Analysis

   When you’re investigating male-presenting factors, a semen analysis is a no-brainer. You can either bring a sample from home, or produce it onsite via ejaculation. The lab examines criteria like volume, sperm count, motility, concentration, morphology (shape), pH levels, and if there are any signs of infection.

Other procedures, with varying levels of invasiveness, might also be recommended such as:

• A simple sonogram to identify or confirm uterine fibroids or other physical anomalies.

• A vaginal ultrasound to see whether and to what extent follicles are developing.

• An x-ray hysterosalpingogram (also known as a “dye test”), where an x-ray-sensitive dye is injected into the ovaries. A technician will then track to see if the dye passes through the fallopian tubes to check if they are blocked or not.

• A testicular biopsy if bloodwork and/or semen analysis suggests a medical condition or abnormal sperm and other tests have not figured out why. A urologist can conduct a testicular biopsy, in which a tiny sample of each testicle is taken for examination under a microscope.

In many cases (10-30%), couples with infertility-issues can ultimately be diagnosed with ‘unexplained infertility’. In other words, the underlying causes aren’t conclusive. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t options to explore.

The Arva Perspective on Infertility

Often, the conversation, narrative and entire patient experience around infertility, especially when unexplained, is focused on the ‘woman’ in the partnership. In reality, however, both the label and the cause can be attributed to both partners trying to conceive.

Make sure that your doctors are taking both you and your partner seriously and examining all the underlying causes before recommending a treatment. You only need one good egg and sperm, and you know your body best.

If you need a helping hand, reach out to our Arva Care Team. We’ll get you on track 🤎

TL;DR:

• "Infertility" means not getting pregnant after a year of regular, unprotected sex (or six months for women over 35).

• Both men and women can face various causes of infertility, and identifying these causes is the initial step toward effective treatment.

• While it's common to try for a year (or six months if over 35) before seeking treatment, there's plenty you can do during this time to explore potential diagnoses and advance your fertility journey.

• Treatment options encompass medication, surgery, and assisted reproduction, each differing in invasiveness and side effects. The choice of medical intervention is ultimately yours to make.