How to Know if You Are Infertile

Co-authored by Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: July 18, 2022 References

If you and your partner have been trying to get pregnant without any luck, there is a chance that one or both of you may be infertile. While it can be a worrying thought, there are many ways you can have a child, even if you or your partner have trouble conceiving. Keep reading to learn more about the warning signs of infertility and when you should go see a doctor for testing.

1

Track how long you’ve been trying to conceive.

Most fertile couples are able to get pregnant within 1 year. If you and your partner have been trying for over a year and you haven't gotten pregnant, make an appointment with your doctor to talk about the cause. Use an app on your phone or a calendar to mark the time on how long it takes you to conceive and how often you have sex.^{[1]
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- Just because you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a while doesn’t mean you’re automatically infertile. You might just need some help from your doctor to conceive.
- If you’re a woman between the ages of 35 and 40, doctors recommend getting tested for infertility after 6 months of trying to get pregnant.
- If you are 40 or older, experts recommend consulting a doctor as soon as you start trying to conceive.^{[2]
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2

Consider your age if you’re a woman.

Your chances of conceiving generally get smaller as you get older. This is because your eggs decrease in number and quality with time. In addition to that, various underlying medical disorders that come with progressing age can further affect your chances of having a baby. Generally, after the age of 30 a woman’s chance of conception reduces by 3-5% every year, with a considerably higher reduction after 40.^{[3]
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- Even if you are an older woman, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to have a child. Your doctor can talk with you about your options and help you find the best way to get pregnant.

3

Monitor any menstrual problems you have.

An abnormal period could potentially be a sign of infertility. Consider the amount of bleeding you experience during every period, the length of the bleeding, the normal cycle you have, and the symptoms that accompany your period. If you notice a change or you experience heavy bleeding or a skipped period, talk to your doctor. Menstrual problems don’t automatically indicate infertility, but they sometimes can.^{[4]
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- Period cramps when you aren’t on your period may also be a sign of infertility.

4

Monitor any erectile dysfunction you’ve been experiencing.

For men, impotence can cause infertility. It’s important to talk to your doctor about erectile dysfunction, as it often indicates an underlying medical condition. More often than not, you can treat erectile dysfunction to get and maintain erections much easier.^{[5]
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- Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by psychological effects like performance anxiety, guilt, and stress.
- Type-2 DM, hypertension, hormonal imbalances, heart diseases, and pelvic surgery or trauma may also result in erectile dysfunction.

5

Think about your habits and lifestyle choices.

Smoking and unbalanced diets can lead to infertility. Cigarette or tobacco smoking leads to hormonal imbalances. It could also cause miscarriages, fetal birth defects, and premature birth. Faulty diets low in nutrients and iron can also affect your reproductive capabilities.^{[6]
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- If you are a smoker, you should consider quitting before you try to get pregnant.
- Exposure to excessive stress and unhealthy sleep patterns could also affect your reproductive health.
- For men, wearing tight underwear can cause a low sperm count.

6

Get tested for problems with your testicles.

As a man, there are various medical disorders that can affect fertility. They might affect your androgen or your hormone levels. These conditions include:^{[7]
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- An infection of the testicles
- Testicular cancer
- A congenital defect of the testicles
- Undescended testicles
- Hypogonadism (low testosterone)

7

Talk to your doctor about anatomical anomalies.

In women, anatomical defects of the uterus can affect fertility. Most of these defects are present at birth and are referred to as congenital anomalies; however, they are almost always asymptomatic. These abnormalities can include:^{[8]
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- A wall dividing the uterus into 2 chambers
- Double uterus
- Adhesions of the uterine wall
- Adhesions and scarring of the fallopian tubes
- Twisted fallopian tubes
- An abnormally positioned uterus

8

Tell your doctor about underlying medical disorders you have.

In women, some medical disorders may affect your fertility rates. There is also a chance that your body may produce anti-sperm antibodies that can damage sperm and keep you from becoming pregnant. Some of the conditions that have been known to cause infertility include:^{[9]
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- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Hypothalamic dysfunction
- Primary ovary insufficiency (POI)
- Autoimmune disorders
- Endometriosis
- Hyperprolactinemia

9

Get your sperm count tested.

The most common cause of male infertility is low sperm count. Some men even have no sperm at all. This is normally due to a problem arising in your seminal vesicles which produce the sperms and hormonal imbalances. If you’ve been struggling to conceive for over 1 year, go to your doctor and get your sperm count tested.^{[10]
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- Unhealthy sperm can also result in infertility.

10

Get tested for chlamydia.

It’s an STD that can affect fertility. Whether you’re a man or a woman, your doctor can take a swab or a urine sample and send it off to a lab to get your test results. If you do have chlamydia, you’ll be treated with a round of antibiotics.^{[11]
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- Symptoms of chlamydia include painful urination, vaginal discharge in women, discharge from the penis in men, painful sexual intercourse in women, bleeding between periods and after sex in women, and testicular pain in men. However, chlamydia can also have no symptoms at all.

Expert Q&A

Question

When should you seek help for infertility?

Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP
Clinical Therapist & Adjunct Professor
Rebecca Tenzer is the owner and head clinician at Astute Counseling Services, a private counseling practice in Chicago, Illinois. With over 18 years of clinical and educational experience in the field of mental health, Rebecca specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, panic, trauma, grief, interpersonal relationships using a combination of Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, and other evidence-based practices. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology and Anthropology from DePauw University, a Master in Teaching (MAT) from Dominican University, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Chicago. Rebecca has served as a member of the AmeriCorps and is also a Professor of Psychology at the collegiate level. Rebecca is trained as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CBT), a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Certified Grief Counseling Specialist (CGCS), a Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), and a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional (CCFP). Rebecca is also a member of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Society of America and The National Association of Social Workers.

Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP

Clinical Therapist & Adjunct Professor

Expert Answer

In regards to mental health, you might want to seek help when infertility begins affecting aspects of your relationship with your partner. With psychotherapy, clinicians analyze the information they glean to interpret meanings of a client's behaviors, beliefs, thoughts, and emotions, and to address and develop coping skills. Clinicians pull from all aspects of a client's life, past, present, and future, when using psychotherapy techniques.