Female infertility is defined as unsuccessful conception after an entire year of unprotected intercourse.

There may be a lot of causes for female infertility. Some of the most common include polycystic ovarian syndrome, fibroids and endometriosis. Significant liver, kidney disease can also lead to infertility problems. Other causes include: premature menopause, ovarian cancer, cervical stenosis and tubal dysfunction. Anorexics or alternately overweight women find it very difficult to conceive.

Diagnosis of infertility requires several tests additional to medical history and physical exam. Among these tests: blood levels of female hormones at certain times during a menstrual cycle, an endometrial biopsy (for analysis of the endometrial development), abdominal or vaginal ultrasound, pelvic examination, thyroid function measurement and more. In some cases laparoscopy is made on an outpatient basis (it is useful in locating scar tissue, blockages, abnormalities and endometriosis).

Knowing the cause of infertility, doctor can decide about treatment protocol. In several cases hormonal medication treatment may resolve infertility problem. In other cases assisted reproductive technologies like Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the only way to get pregnant.

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