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At University of Maryland Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, we provide fertility resources to help a woman decide the optimal time for her to have a family.

What is infertility?

Infertility is when someone has not been able to get pregnancy spontaneously with regular intercourse after one year. This time frame may be shorter depending on a patient's age or if she has irregular periods.

The OB/GYN team works with each patient to determine the best approach to treat infertility.

This process involves first collecting information on a patient's ovulation cycle. A simple blood test determines if hormone levels are normal.

Physicians then ask the patient to track her cycle with ovulation predictor kits, which tests when the luteinizing hormone (LH) rises in the body. Another way to do this is to consistently measure the basal body temperature each morning.

Simultaneously, the OB/GYN team will determine if the patient is ovulating and if there is any obstruction for the fertilized egg, such as blockage of the Fallopian tubes or the uterine cavity. This can be done through a simple X-ray test called hysterosalpingogram (HSG).

Additionally, the physician may order a semen analysis for the male partner to see if there are any factors that can impact fertilization.

There are some common gynecological conditions that may impact fertility.

These include:

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