Understanding the Facts About Infertility

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 12 percent of the U.S. population in their reproductive years are infertile

Approximately one in eight couples are affected by infertility in the United States. Age, physical health, and lifestyle choices all contribute to a person’s fertility. Infertility affects both men and women, but there are safe and effective therapies that can improve the chances of becoming pregnant.

After six months of trying unsuccessfully to conceive, a woman 35 years of age or older is recommended to have an evaluation with a physician. It’s important to note that when a woman reaches age 40, chances of pregnancy decreases to less than five percent.

Causes of Female Infertility

The most common causes of female infertility include:

• Ovulation disorders or hormonal imbalances
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Scarring from a previous surgery

For women, it’s important to stop smoking, limit the use of alcohol, and maintain a healthy weight.

Causes of Male Infertility

Infertility in men is typically related to:

• Production of sperm
• Sperm count
• Movement of the sperm

There are a variety of risk factors, medical conditions, and medications that can also affect fertility. For men, it’s important to stop smoking, limit the use of alcohol, and maintain a healthy weight.

When to See a Doctor

A doctor is recommended to be seen, after couples have been trying, unsuccessfully, to conceive for one year.An earlier meeting is recommended if they experience the following:

For Women

• Over age 40
• Have irregular or no periods
• Have very painful periods
• Have known fertility problems
• Have been diagnosed with endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease
• Have had multiple miscarriages
• Have undergone treatment for cancer. Reproductive cancers often impair female fertility, as well as radiation and chemotherapy

For Men

• A low sperm count due to undescended testicles, genetic defects, health problems, or infections
• A history of testicular, prostate, or sexual problems
• Undergone treatment for cancer, including radiation or chemotherapy
• Small testicles or swelling in the scrotum
• Others in the family with infertility problems

Treatment Options

Nearly 90 percent of infertility cases are treatable with:

• Medical therapies
• Surgical repair of reproductive organs
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Supplements

A simple way to increase the chances of conceiving include improvements to your diet. Vitamin D, B Vitamins, Folate, Calcium, and Vitamin E are all essential in boosting fertility. Vitamins play critical roles in female health, including menstruation and ovulation; thyroid function; energy production; immune system health; and egg quality and maturation.

Valor Compounding Pharmacy™, in partnership with Designs for Health and Metagenics, provides nutritional supplements that address a wide variety of health issues, as well as serving to improve and maintain general health. Speak with your doctor or nutritional consultant about which supplements are right for you.

Contact Us

Valor Compounding Pharmacy™, Inc. is a multi-state licensed 503A facility housing both sterile and non-sterile laboratories, located in Berkeley, CA. Valor is a specialized pharmacy that makes custom medications to meet the unique needs of the individual patient. Our goal is to reinvent pharmacy from a reactive vendor to a proactive partner in patient health care. We do that by optimizing turnaround time, being data-driven, and by reducing patient anxiety.

Our focus is on non-sterile and sterile, hazardous and non-hazardous compounded medication, and we work with a network of providers, patients, health systems/institutions, and research scientists in multiple states in the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Washington and Washington, D.C.