It seems like such a natural thing to get pregnant. Mother Nature is called "Mother" for a reason. Unfortunately for some couples, becoming pregnant can be far from natural.
Someone is considered infertile once they have tried and failed to get pregnant after one year of sex without birth control. And there are hundreds of medical reasons for infertility.
Among men, the causes of infertility can be many things, including smoking and genetic abnormalities. Women may become infertile because of a number of factors, too, such as sexually transmitted infections, uterine fibroids, or endometriosis. In some cases, women become infertile due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition characterized
by irregular menstrual periods and unwanted hair growth.
For a doctor to diagnose infertility, there may be tests done to measure a man's sperm count or a woman's hormone levels. Women also may undergo ultrasound, X-rays, or other scans to look for fibroids, masses, endometriosis, or other abnormalities in the reproductive organs.
Before medical intervention, couples wishing to conceive may also consider tracking the woman's most fertile times or using a home ovulation test kit to maximize their chances of getting pregnant. Infertility can also be treated in the operating room or through procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF).