What is female infertility?

Infertility is the inability to become pregnant. The most common cause of female infertility is ovulation problems (making and releasing eggs). At Penn Medicine Fertility and Reproductive Care, our fertility specialists understand the frustration and challenges you experience when you have trouble conceiving and offer a wide range of infertility treatments and support to help. Our experienced team works relentlessly to help you overcome infertility. You have access to sophisticated technology and compassionate, goal-oriented reproductive care.

Types of infertility

There are two different types of female infertility:

  • Primary infertility is when you’re unable to conceive after trying for a year if you’re under age 35. In females aged 35 or older, primary infertility happens after six months of trying to conceive.
  • Secondary infertility can happen if you’re unable to conceive after you’ve been pregnant before.

Our fertility specialists can also help if you experience recurrent pregnancy loss, which means you can get pregnant but have trouble staying pregnant. Recurrent pregnancy loss occurs when a person has two or more miscarriages that occur before the 20th week of pregnancy.

Fertility care at Penn Medicine includes a wide variety of advanced treatments and services. Our board-certified reproductive endocrinologists provide compassionate care and address the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of infertility.

Causes of female infertility

There are many reasons why you might struggle with fertility. Age is one of the most common reasons. Fertility in females starts to decline at age 30. By age 35, your body experiences a rapid decrease in eggs. Age also increases your risk of developing health conditions that affect fertility.

Other common causes of female infertility include:

  • Endometriosis, a condition in which endometrial tissue (tissue that lines the uterus) grows on other pelvic organs, including the ovaries
  • Menstrual conditions, including infrequent or absent periods (amenorrhea) or heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease, a bacterial infection in your reproductive organs that can cause scarring
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal disorder that affects how your ovaries function
  • Scarring, which can occur from previous abdominal surgeries or infections
  • Uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths in your uterus

Some causes of infertility can affect both men and women, such as:

  • Cancer treatments
  • Heavy alcohol use
  • Hormone imbalances
  • Obesity
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  • Smoking

Diagnosing female infertility

To diagnose infertility, your provider will do a physical exam and take your health history. They may recommend you have fertility testing. At Penn Medicine, our experienced reproductive health and fertility specialists will ensure you receive the right tests and an accurate diagnosis.

Our infertility tests include:

Infertility treatment options

Infertility is a complex condition. Your treatment will depend on several factors, including the cause, how long you’ve been trying to get pregnant, and your age. Our infertility support specialists personalize treatment based on your unique needs. At Penn Medicine, treatment options for infertility include:

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