Infertility

What is infertility?

Infertility is a struggle that affects about 10-15% of couples in the United States. It occurs when you’re unable to get pregnant after a year of trying. Infertility can result because of issues with the woman, the man, or both. Dr. Fong offers basic primary infertility work-ups and ovulation induction in women, as well as other infertility treatments.

What are the risk factors for infertility?

Infertility can happen to anyone, and the reason isn’t always understood. Risk factors for infertility in women include:

• Ovulation disorders
• Fallopian tube damage or blockages
• Cervical abnormalities
• Uterine abnormalities
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Endometriosis
• Pelvic adhesions
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Early menopause
• Cancer or cancer treatment
• Being underweight, overweight, or obese
• Older age
• Tobacco and alcohol use
  
  

Dr. Foong gets to the root cause of infertility and offers treatments that significantly improve your chance of getting pregnant.

What happens during infertility visits?

During appointments at the office of Nicolai Foong, M.D., your provider weighs you and checks your blood pressure, pulse, and other vital signs. 

Dr. Foong reviews your medical history, medication regimen, lifestyle, and pregnancy history. He completes a physical examination, including a pelvic exam, to look for possible causes of infertility. 

Your doctor may recommend you undergo a blood test, ovulation testing, ultrasound, or other diagnostic procedures to detect hormone imbalances and gynecological problems.

What are my infertility treatment options?

Based on the cause of infertility and your overall health, Dr. Foong might suggest one of the following infertility treatments:

Lifestyle changes

Healthy lifestyle changes that increase your chance of getting pregnant include not smoking, avoiding alcohol and drugs, limiting caffeine, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy body weight. 

Ovulation induction

With infertility medications, Dr. Foong can help stimulate ovulation to increase your chance of becoming pregnant. 

Intrauterine insemination

Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, is a procedure where Dr. Foong places healthy sperm directly into your uterus when your ovary releases an egg.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) 

IVF is a common type of infertility treatment where your doctor retrieves eggs, fertilizes them with sperm in a lab, and implants the fertilized embryos in your uterus. 

Minor surgery

If you experience endometrial polyps, fibroids, pelvic adhesions, endometriosis, or intrauterine scar tissue, Dr. Foong offers minimally invasive surgery to remove or repair targeted tissues and improve fertility. 

Don’t struggle with infertility when simple treatments can help you become pregnant. Call the office of Nicolai Foong, M.D., or book an appointment online today.