CONCEPTION
The miraculous process of conception is a complicated one. The odds of pregnancy on any given month during ovulation are only 10% for a woman 35 or older with no fertility complications. Crazy, right?
FOR CONCEPTION TO OCCUR
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During ovulation a woman releases an egg which enters into a fallopian tube
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Sperm enters the cervix and travels through the uterus and into the fallopian tube
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Fertilization takes place in the fallopian tube within 24 – 48 hours of ovulation
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The fertilized egg or embryo travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus where it implants in the uterine lining and develops
Infertility results when a problem develops in any part of this complex process. One out of eight couples has trouble conceiving. The first step in overcoming infertility is to seek an experienced reproductive endocrinologist to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
A single female-factor is the cause of infertility in 40% of cases. Interestingly, a single male-factor is the culprit in an additional 40% of cases. A combination of male and female factors occur in 10% of cases. In the remaining 10% of cases diagnostic tests do not give us the answer. This is called unexplained infertility. Scientific data suggests that many couples who have unexplained infertility may, in fact, have a fertilization issue. The good news is that IVF with ICSI are often able to help us overcome unexplained infertility.