Is Everyone Infertile? | Shady Grove Fertility Center

Medical Contribution By Dr. Naveed Khan

While it may seem like more and more people are being diagnosed with infertility and seeking treatments these days, many are surprised to learn that infertility is no more common today than in the past.

Dr. Naveed Khan of Shady Grove Fertility’s Leesburg, VA office explains that the increased awareness of infertility in today’s society is due to a couple of factors. One is that women today are attempting pregnancy at older ages, a time when they are less biologically fertile. Another is in the increased public awareness of infertility that is reported on by the media. Any scientific advances in the field or interesting and unusual birth outcomes make national and international news.

It is estimated that there are 2.5 million couples diagnosed with infertility in the United States each year. Interestingly enough, the overall incidence of infertility has remained relatively unchanged over the past 30 years. The one thing that has changed dramatically during this time is the evaluation and treatment of infertility.

“There are several significant changes that have occurred in the field of infertility, especially in the last 10-15 years,” says Dr. Khan.

Advances in Diagnosing Infertility

Diagnosing infertility has evolved through tests that provide physicians with a better understanding of a patient’s ovarian reserve. By conducting hormonal blood tests and ultrasound on day 3 of a woman’s menstrual cycle, physicians can use that information to tailor a specific treatment protocol for patients.

“By testing a woman’s Estradiol, Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Lutenizing Hormone on day 3 of her cycle, we can get a better understanding, than were able to in the past, of her ovarian function which, in turn, helps us with an infertility diagnosis,” said Dr. Khan.

He adds that in the past, tests like endometrial biopsies and post-coital tests may have been performed to help determine infertility, but since the advancements in hormonal tests, there is little benefit for running those tests.

Dr. Khan also credits advancements in the way a man’s sperm is analyzed. “We use the Kruger Strict criteria when processing a semen analysis,” he said. “This protocol allows our andrologists a more specific way to evaluate sperm morphology as it relates to infertility.

Shady Grove Fertility physicians see and treat virtually every condition related to infertility and notably, the most frustrating diagnosis for patients to deal with, unexplained infertility. This is essentially the default diagnosis when everything in the infertility evaluation comes back normal.

Understandably, some people have a difficult time comprehending why they are not getting pregnant when everything is “normal”, and this can lead to more stress. In some patients with unexplained infertility, the explanation may lie in a combination of subtle factors leading to the infertility, or it may be a result of fertilization or embryo development issues. Fortunately, the success rates are high with available treatments for couples with unexplained infertility.

Additional common diagnoses that is seen in patients include:

Other conditions that our physicians see and treat are uterine abnormalities, genetic conditions, hormonal abnormalities, and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Treating Infertility with Better Success

As technology has enhanced the ability to diagnose infertility, it has also revolutionized the way it’s treated. While some of the simplest methods of treating infertility, ovulation induction and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), are still performed the same way, advancements in medication that accompany those protocols have led to increased success.

“We can now utilize medications typically prescribed for IVF, such as FSH and hCG, at lower doses for IUI which results in a more vigorous response to the treatment cycle as well as precisely timed ovulation,” said Dr. Khan.

“And the technology and procedures used in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are continually being refined and are leading to gradually higher pregnancy rates each cycle,” Dr. Khan adds.

Some of those refinements include safer medication protocols which allow patients to stimulate their ovaries more efficiently, resulting in more eggs being produced with fewer chances of complications such as hyperstimulation.

“The success of IVF has significantly increased to the point that a good prognosis patient has nearly a 70% pregnancy rate per cycle,” said Dr. Khan.

Another advancement is in the field of egg freezing. In the last two years Shady Grove Fertility has gone from a slow freezing technique to a rapid freeze or vitrification process. Vitrification allows more embryos to survive the freezing and thawing process, and allow for implantation and pregnancy rates close to those of fresh embryos.

Reassurance From Within

Dr. Khan explains to his patients who feel that they are the only ones who are dealing with infertility that it’s normal to feel that way, but there are many couples who are going though the same thing as they are. In fact, some of their best friends may be seeking treatment as well.

“I always reassure my patients that they are not the only ones with infertility,” Dr Khan said. “I understand on a personal level what they are feeling because I was in their position once. Yes…even doctors have to deal with infertility. So I let them know that today we have effective diagnosis and treatments that can help nearly everyone fulfill their dream of having a baby.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, please speak with one of our friendly New Patient Liaisons by calling 888-761-1967.