CAMC Women and Children's Hospital
CAMC Fertility Center

Our staff
Front: Misty Keeney, CMA Middle, L to R: Dr Subodhsingh Chauhan Reproductive Endocrinologist, Jane Burrow MT, Jeanine Price Clinical Nurse Specialist, Sharon Woods RN, Judith Hill RN Nurse Manager, Dr. Dmitri Dozortsev Embryologist. Back: Jane Hackney LPN, Kathy Taylor RN	WVU Physicians of Charleston Department of Ob/Gyn CAMC Women and Children's Hospital 830 Pennsylvania Ave. Charleston, WV 25302 (304) 388-1515

Defining infertility
Physicians generally define infertility as a failure to conceive in one year of unprotected intercourse. This definition does not identify the problem or whether the condition is permanent.

What causes infertility?

• A woman’s ovaries must regularly produce good-quality eggs.

• Normal sperm must be produced in high enough quantities and be delivered through natural intercourse.

• The reproductive passageways must be clear for sperm to enter the uterus, swim up the
  tubes, and unite with the egg.

• The early embryo must be able to travel to the uterus through the tubes to implant within the walls of the uterus.

• The lining of the uterus should be able to sustain pregnancy.

What makes infertility treatment special?
Infertility treatment is expensive and insurance companies often do not cover infertility treatments. Experts hold different opinions about the aspects and methods of treatment. Complications from treatment can harm people who may have been in good medical condition prior to treatment.

Is fertility a male or female problem?
After undergoing diagnostic testing, statistics show that 40 percent of fertility issues are female related, 40 percent are male related, 10 percent related to a combination of male and female factors and the remaining 10 percent of fertility issues is unexplained.

If I had a baby once, how can I be infertile now?
The condition if referred to as secondary infertility. Sometimes, a new factor such as infection, can damage the reproductive organs, after a child is born, or the natural aging process can make it more difficult for a couple to conceive. The diagnosis and treatment are similar to primary infertility, but often, the prognosis is better.

Is infertility more common these days?
According to national data there is no major increase in proportion of couples who are infertile. However, many more women are seeking medical services for diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Often, these women seeking treatment have not previously had children.

How does age affect fertility?
In general, fertility in women begins to decline  after age 30, with a steep drop in fertility rates between the ages of 35 and 45. Miscarriages are also more common among women who are pregnant after the age of 35.