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Fertility Risks

From being overweight to chemicals in the environment, there are many risks to your fertility.

Fertility Risks Articles

One of the tools out there for at-home inseminations is a simple syringe. If you purchase sperm through a sperm bank, but want to inseminate at home, chances are good that they will provide you with needleless syringes to complete the process. You use the syringe in much the same way as implied by the turkey baster, though it’s certainly less unwieldy. You’ll draw the semen into the syringe, and then insert the syringe into your vagina, where you will deposit the sperm. Then, you’ll recline for about a half hour with your hips elevated.

Few people realize how common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are among men and women of reproductive age, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 20 million new STDs occur each year. Some STDs can increase susceptibility to infection by other diseases, including HIV. They can also increase risk for pregnancy and birth complications.

One disconcerting fact that echoes a need for awareness is that some STDs can lead to infertility or cancer if left untreated. Bacteria found in bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea can spread to the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID causes inflammation and scar tissue to develop which can inhibit ovulation or lead to ectopic pregnancies. Each year in the United States, approximately 750,000 women are diagnosed with PID, and up to 15% of these women experience infertility.

With sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) ranked as the most common infectious diseases in the U.S., doctors have learned to aid those living with these diseases continue to lead a normal life and bear children.

Fertility Risks Videos

Is it Safe for Women Going Through Infertility Treatment to Take Anti-Depressants, or SSRIs?

Dr. Alice D. Domar of Domar Center for Health explains the safety behind taking anti-depressants or SSRIs while undergoing IVF treatment.
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How Does Lifestyle Affect Fertility

Concerned about your daily activities impacting your fertility? Dr. David Meldrum of Reproductive Partners Medical Group in California explains how lifestyle affects fertility.