Not at all. Many treatments simply improve timing or support ovulation. Not everyone needs IVF. Sometimes small adjustments are enough.

Your plan depends on your age, diagnosis and goals.

Yes, several evidence-based lifestyle changes can improve fertility for people with ovaries and people who produce sperm. Maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients, limit alcohol and caffeine, quit smoking and reduce stress. Ensure adequate sleep (7-9 hours) to support reproductive and overall health and longevity.

Infertility is typically defined as not conceiving after:

• 12 months of trying (under 35)
• 6 months of trying (35 or older)

It also includes individuals who need medical help to conceive, including single parents by choice and same-sex couples.

It’s common and often shared by both partners.

• About 30% egg-related
• About 30% sperm-related
• About 15% both
• About 20% unexplained
• About 5% unknown

An evaluation helps clarify what’s going on and guide next steps.

Before your visit, you’ll complete a health questionnaire and share prior records.

During your appointment, your clinician will:

• Review your history
• Talk through your goals
• Recommend next steps

Most patients leave with a clear, personalized plan.

Testing may include:

• Hormone labs
• Ovarian reserve testing
• Pelvic ultrasound
• Uterine imaging
• Genetic screening
• Infectious disease testing
• Semen analysis (if applicable)

Most testing can be done relatively quickly. Once results are available, your clinician will review findings and discuss treatment options tailored to your goals.

Ovulation Stimulation

Ovulation stimulation uses medication to help your ovaries release an egg. It may be timed with intercourse or combined with IUI.

What’s the chance of twins?

It depends on the medication:

• Letrozole: ~5%
• Clomid: ~8%
• Injectables: higher likelihood

Your care team monitors you closely to reduce the likelihood of multiples.

What are the side effects?

Usually mild and temporary:

• Hot flashes
• Mood changes
• Bloating
• Headache
• Mild injection discomfort

Serious complications are rare.

How many cycles should I try?

Many patients try 3 to 6 cycles before reassessing the plan.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

IUI places prepared sperm directly into the uterus around ovulation.

How many IUIs should I try?

Many patients try 3 to 6 cycles before considering next steps.

In Vitro Fertilization

IVF involves retrieving eggs, fertilizing them in the lab and transferring an embryo to the uterus.

When is IVF recommended?

It may be suggested if:

• Other treatments haven’t worked
• There are tubal or significant sperm factors
• Endometriosis or age-related decline is present
• Genetic testing is needed

Will IVF increase my chance of twins?

It can if more than one embryo is transferred. Many clinics prioritize single embryo transfer to reduce twin risk.

What are common side effects?

Most people experience temporary bloating, fatigue or mood changes.

A rare but important risk is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Your care team tailors medication and monitors closely to reduce this risk.

The IVF Funnel: Why Do Numbers Decrease?

Not every egg becomes an embryo, and that’s normal.

Typical progression:

• Eggs retrieved
• ~90% mature
• ~70% fertilize
• 30% to 40% reach blastocyst stage

Genetic testing may reveal that some embryos are not chromosomally normal. This is expected and doesn’t mean something went wrong. Even one healthy embryo can be enough.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) evaluates embryos for genetic or chromosomal abnormalities before being transferred to the uterus.

Why do patients choose it?

To:

• Identify chromosomally normal embryos
• Test for inherited conditions
• Reduce miscarriage risk
• Make more informed decisions

It’s highly accurate, but it does not guarantee pregnancy. It’s a personal decision made with your clinician.

Fertility preservation means freezing eggs, sperm or embryos now for possible future use.

People choose it based on age, medical treatment or life planning.

Egg Freezing

This process allows you to preserve unfertilized eggs for potential future use. It involves hormone stimulation, egg retrieval and long-term storage.

Success depends mostly on:

• Your age at freezing
• The number of eggs stored

More eggs generally means better odds. Not all eggs survive freezing.

When is the best time to start the process?

Earlier usually means better egg quality. The “right” time depends on your goals.

How long does this process take?

Usually 2 to 3 weeks from start to egg retrieval, depending on your personalized protocol. This includes 10-14 days of daily injectable fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries to mature multiple eggs instead of one. About 3 days after the last shot, eggs are collected in a minor surgical procedure under light sedation. This takes about 15-30 minutes.

Sperm Freezing

Sperm freezing is a simple way to preserve fertility for the future.

Often chosen before:

• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
• Gender-affirming care
• Travel or deployment

Storage time itself typically does not reduce the likelihood of success. Outcomes depend more on sperm quality at the time of freezing.

Embryo Freezing

Embryos are created through IVF, then frozen.

Survival rates after thaw are very high, and pregnancy rates are similar to fresh transfers.

Embryo freezing provides more predictability because fertilization has already occurred.