Infertility

At the Iowa Women's Health Center, we are here to help you realize your dream of parenthood. We offer a complete range of services for people trying to build their families, and those who wish to preserve their future fertility, in one place, under one care team.

Infertility can be caused a variety of factors, including:

1. Ovulation disorders: Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can affect ovulation, leading to irregular or absent menstrual cycles and difficulty conceiving.

2. Fallopian tube damage or blockage: Conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, or previous surgeries can damage or block the fallopian tubes, preventing the egg from meeting the sperm.

3. Uterine or cervical abnormalities: Structural issues with the uterus or cervix, such as fibroids, polyps, or cervical stenosis, can interfere with implantation or sperm movement.

4. Age-related factors: Fertility declines with age, particularly after the age of 35, due to a decrease in the quantity and quality of eggs.

5. Hormonal imbalances: Disorders such as thyroid dysfunction or elevated prolactin levels can affect fertility by disrupting ovulation or the menstrual cycle.

6. Lifestyle factors: Factors such as obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, or excessive stress can negatively impact fertility.

7. Unexplained infertility: In some cases, the cause of infertility may not be identified despite thorough testing.

Infertility can be emotionally challenging for individuals and couples, Iowa Women’s Health Center is here to help as much as we can. Treatment options for infertility depend on the underlying cause and may include:

  • Ovulation induction: Medications such as clomiphene citrate or letrozole may be prescribed to stimulate ovulation.
  • Intrauterine insemination (IUI): This involves placing sperm directly into the uterus during ovulation to improve the chances of fertilization.
  • Assisted reproductive technologies (ART): Procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be recommended for couples with severe male factor infertility, tubal factor infertility, or unexplained infertilit
  • Surgery: Surgical interventions may be necessary to correct structural abnormalities such as fibroids, polyps, or tubal blockages.
  • Donor eggs or sperm: In cases of severe infertility, using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos may be an option.
  • Gestational surrogacy: In situations where a woman is unable to carry a pregnancy, gestational surrogacy involves using a surrogate to carry the pregnancy to term.

Infertility

Infertility can be caused a variety of factors, including:

1. Ovulation disorders: Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can affect ovulation, leading to irregular or absent menstrual cycles and difficulty conceiving.

2. Fallopian tube damage or blockage: Conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, or previous surgeries can damage or block the fallopian tubes, preventing the egg from meeting the sperm.

3. Uterine or cervical abnormalities: Structural issues with the uterus or cervix, such as fibroids, polyps, or cervical stenosis, can interfere with implantation or sperm movement.

4. Age-related factors: Fertility declines with age, particularly after the age of 35, due to a decrease in the quantity and quality of eggs.

5. Hormonal imbalances: Disorders such as thyroid dysfunction or elevated prolactin levels can affect fertility by disrupting ovulation or the menstrual cycle.

6. Lifestyle factors: Factors such as obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, or excessive stress can negatively impact fertility.

7. Unexplained infertility: In some cases, the cause of infertility may not be identified despite thorough testing.

Infertility can be emotionally challenging for individuals and couples, Iowa Women’s Health Center is here to help as much as we can. Treatment options for infertility depend on the underlying cause and may include:

  • Ovulation induction: Medications such as clomiphene citrate or letrozole may be prescribed to stimulate ovulation.
  • Intrauterine insemination (IUI): This involves placing sperm directly into the uterus during ovulation to improve the chances of fertilization.
  • Assisted reproductive technologies (ART): Procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be recommended for couples with severe male factor infertility, tubal factor infertility, or unexplained infertilit
  • Surgery: Surgical interventions may be necessary to correct structural abnormalities such as fibroids, polyps, or tubal blockages.
  • Donor eggs or sperm: In cases of severe infertility, using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos may be an option.
  • Gestational surrogacy: In situations where a woman is unable to carry a pregnancy, gestational surrogacy involves using a surrogate to carry the pregnancy to term.