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Despite how widespread infertility is, affecting about 9% of U.S. men and 11% of U.S. women, the condition remains underdiscussed and misunderstood.

Information is critical to making the right decisions throughout your family building journey, but with so many misconceptions about fertility — and so much unsolicited advice — it can be difficult to know the best way forward. To help set the record straight, we’ve debunked several common myths about infertility.

Top Fertility Myths Debunked

Despite how widespread infertility is, affecting about 9% of U.S. men and 11% of U.S. women, the condition remains underdiscussed and misunderstood.

Information is critical to making the right decisions throughout your family building journey, but with so many misconceptions about fertility — and so much unsolicited advice — it can be difficult to know the best way forward. To help set the record straight, we’ve debunked several common myths about infertility.

Myth: Infertility is purely a female health issue

Infertility is often considered a women’s health issue, but in reality, only a third of all infertility cases are exclusively caused by female reproductive factors. Of the remaining two-thirds, half stem from only a male reproductive factor and half stem from a combination of male and female factors or unknown causes.

Male infertility is most often the result of issues with sperm production, including problems with sperm quality and quantity. Fertility treatment can help address both male and female fertility issues. In fact, one reason for the perception of infertility as purely a female health condition is that it is sometimes women who undergo assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) even for a male infertility factor. (Men can be treated for infertility with oral medications or injectable hormone therapy, but these treatments can take six months to a year or more whereas a typical IVF cycle is just two weeks.)

If you and your partner are experiencing challenges conceiving, you both may wish to consult with a doctor about a fertility evaluation to determine the best next steps. Experts recommend seeking an evaluation after six months of trying to conceive if the female partner is over 35 and after a year if the female partner is 35 or younger.

Read Male Infertility: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.

Myth: Age doesn’t affect male fertility

Many people are aware that women become less fertile as they age, with a significant decline in the quantity and quality of their eggs from the mid 30s until they eventually reach menopause. Male fertility also declines with age, typically beginning around 35-40. And though the changes men experience are less significant — men never stop producing sperm and may be able to conceive well into their 50s, 60s, or later — a male partner’s age can influence pregnancy rates and how long it takes to conceive.

The age-related decrease in male fertility often stems from changes in sperm quantity and quality. Sperm quantity refers to the amount of sperm produced, while quality refers to its movement, size, and shape. These characteristics are important factors in male fertility, as they affect sperm’s ability to reach and fertilize an egg.

Myth: You’re too young to experience fertility challenges

Given that age is a factor in both male and female infertility cases, it’s understandable to assume that you won’t have difficulty conceiving in your 20s or early 30s. However, infertility affects people of different ages. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 7% of women between the ages of 20-24 face infertility, as do 9% of women between the ages of 25-29.

Age-related changes in fertility can vary by individual. While fertility typically begins to decline around the ages of 30-35 for most women, it’s possible to enter premature menopause and experience these changes even earlier.

Beyond the variation in age-related fertility issues, there are some causes of infertility entirely unrelated to age, including:

A history of pelvic inflammatory disease, chlamydia, or gonorrhea — conditions that can lead to blocked fallopian tubes

Other health issues including a history of chronic illnesses or cancer of a reproductive organ

Lifestyle factors including smoking and substance use issues

Remember that no one is ever too young to pursue fertility testing, and you are your own best advocate.

Myth: Getting a regular monthly period means you won’t struggle with fertility

Yes, the majority of female infertility cases are caused by problems with ovulation — the release of a mature egg from the ovaries — and a regular period typically indicates that you are ovulating normally. However, there are other drivers of female infertility, and it is possible to struggle to conceive even with a regular menstrual cycle.

Here are some reasons why you might have difficulty conceiving despite getting a regular monthly period:

Structural issues with the uterus or cervix

Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue that should only grow in the uterus implants and grows elsewhere

Silent anovulation*, a condition in which a person does not ovulate despite getting a regular period

Fortunately, there is treatment for a wide range of fertility issues. A fertility evaluation is an important first step toward addressing your specific challenge.

*The majority of anovulation cases are characterized by an irregular period and therefore more easily recognizable, hence why those that include a regular period are referred to as silent cases.

Myth: Couples who naturally conceived previously won’t struggle with fertility in the future

Having an easy time getting pregnant once doesn’t necessarily indicate that you will have the same experience in the future. Infertility may develop at different stages of life, particularly when age is a contributing factor.

Secondary infertility occurs when individuals or couples who already have one or more children have difficulty conceiving again. It affects approximately 11% of U.S. couples and is caused by many of the same factors as primary infertility, or difficulty conceiving for the first time.

Regardless of whether you’ve been pregnant previously, don’t delay on seeking a fertility evaluation if you are struggling to conceive.

Myth: If you’re trying to conceive, just relax

It’s commonly assumed that stress makes it more difficult to get pregnant. While chronic stress may affect a person’s ability to conceive, it’s important to remember that infertility is a medical condition, and stress alone is unlikely to drive fertility struggles. In other words, try not to let your stress become a new source of stress.

That said, while healthy stress management isn’t a substitute for fertility treatment, staying mindful of your emotional and mental well-being can only make it easier to navigate the challenges of infertility.

A pharmacy partner for your fertility journey

Fertility treatment can be a challenging journey, but Alto is with you every step of the way. We offer free same-day delivery of your medications and fertility resources like personalized injection guide videos and access to fertility-trained pharmacists.

Interested in learning more about how Alto can support your treatment? Request a price quote online or reach out through secure in-app messaging or by phone at 1-800-874-5881.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Egg freezing, a fertility preservation treatment that allows you to store unfertilized eggs for potential use in the future, has grown increasingly popular throughout the past decade. Between 2010 and 2016, the number of U.S. women who pursued the treatment increased by 880%. The trend has continued, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that 123,304 egg freezing cycles were successfully completed in 2020 alone.

What to Consider Before Freezing Your Eggs

While egg freezing is a worthwhile experience for many women and people assigned female at birth, it is a deeply personal decision. There are many factors to consider as you evaluate if it’s right for you, including your individual health, finances, and family building goals.

Informing yourself about the process is a critical first step. Here’s an overview of what egg freezing entails — physically, emotionally, and financially.

Egg freezing is an option for anyone interested in preserving their fertility for personal or medical reasons.

All people with ovaries are born with the total amount of eggs they’ll ever produce — about a million on average. Each person’s egg count decreases with time. While only one egg matures enough to be released from the ovaries during a typical menstrual cycle, thousands of follicles, or potential eggs, are lost each time your body prepares for ovulation. As a result, the quantity and quality of eggs start to steadily decline in the early 30s, with a more significant decline from the mid 30s on.

Though many women successfully conceive naturally after 35, there is a correlation between pregnancy rates and age. By allowing you to try to conceive at a later age with eggs collected earlier, successful egg freezing offers a more flexible timeline for family building, and, in many cases, peace of mind. While many pursue the process with clarity about their reproductive goals — and the intention of a future pregnancy — others are undecided about having children and simply wish to leave their options open.

Egg freezing is also an option for people whose fertility may be impacted by medical factors like the following:

Cancer treatment: Some cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and surgery of a reproductive organ, can impact a person’s fertility. For this reason, many women of reproductive age choose to freeze their eggs before starting treatment.

Other health conditions: Many individual health factors can influence fertility. Treatment for conditions like endometriosis or benign tumors may include removal of the ovaries. Women with a family history of ovarian cancer may pursue elective removal of the ovaries.

Gender-affirming surgery or treatment: The biological process of transitioning can permanently or temporarily impact a person’s ability to conceive. Many transgender men and transmasculine people freeze their eggs prior to hormone therapy or surgery. 

An egg freezing cycle is physically demanding, with self-administered injections and a minimally invasive procedure to retrieve your eggs.

In most cases the process begins with a transvaginal ultrasound, which allows your doctor to estimate your egg quantity. The following blood tests can provide additional information about the number of eggs in your ovaries:

The anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) test measures your body’s levels of a hormone associated with ovarian reserve. It is a good indicator of egg quantity, but not egg quality.

The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test measures your body’s levels of another hormone associated with your ovarian reserve.

Test results can also help your doctor predict your body’s response to fertility medications and tailor your treatment plan accordingly.

After the initial ultrasound and blood work, your doctor will prescribe stimulation medications to spur the growth of follicles, fluid-filled sacs in your ovaries that potentially contain an egg. These are some of the medications you may take during this stage:

These medications are typically taken as nightly injections.

Most ovulation suppression medications are typically introduced around days 5-10. These medications prevent premature ovulation — the body’s natural release of eggs from the ovaries — so that your doctor can retrieve as many eggs as possible.

These are some of the medications you may take at this stage:

Cetrotide/Fyramedel™ (ganirelix acetate)

While leuprolide is considered a suppression medication, it is typically started at least a week prior to stimulation medications.

Once your eggs have sufficiently developed, your doctor will schedule 1-3 trigger shots to give your eggs a final growth spurt and trigger release.

Medications used for trigger shots include:

If your body doesn’t respond to the stimulation medications or you have a decreased ovarian reserve, your doctor may add one of the following ancillary medications to your protocol to increase your chances of success.

Omnitrope® — a growth hormone whose main purpose is to help improve the quality of eggs

Microdose leuprolide injections — a lower dosage of leuprolide used to boost ovarian response to stimulation medications

The final step in a successful cycle is egg retrieval. In this minimally invasive procedure, your doctor will gently guide a thin needle through your vaginal wall and use suction to draw the eggs from the follicles. Your eggs will then be stored in a facility for however long you choose to.

While the retrieval itself takes 15 to 45 minutes, you should plan to be at the clinic for several hours. Many people find it helpful to have a friend or family member accompany them to the clinic for support before and after.

Each cycle typically takes 10-14 days from the beginning of medication use to egg retrieval. You will have regular doctor’s appointments for additional ultrasounds and blood work while taking stimulation and ovulation suppression medications. Your doctor may adjust medication dosages based on your hormone levels.

If and when you decide to use your frozen eggs, they will be thawed, fertilized with sperm, and implanted into your uterus through the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

For some women, it is a viable option to freeze embryos, or fertilized eggs. There are several reasons a person might opt to freeze embryos:

Some studies have found that frozen embryos have a higher thaw survival rate than frozen eggs. 

Embryos can undergo genetic testing, so you can learn of any chromosomal abnormalities before freezing them. 

You will also know that you are freezing an egg healthy enough for successful fertilization.

However, this option requires you to decide whose sperm to use early on in the process.

Your doctor may recommend that you stop taking hormonal birth control before your egg freezing cycle, as it may affect fertility assessment results as well as your body’s response to fertility medications. Non-hormonal forms of birth control, like a copper IUD, should not interfere with the egg freezing process.  

What else should I consider before freezing my eggs?

The egg freezing process affects both the mind and body, with physical and emotional side effects. While each person responds differently to the treatment, certain symptoms are common, including:

Injection site reaction (soreness, redness, or mild bruising)

Changes in mood such as heightened sensitivity, irritability, euphoria, or depression due to elevated estrogen levels

Alto’s fertility-trained pharmacists can help you navigate egg freezing side effects, with availability on nights and weekends.

Different injectable fertility medications require different administration methods. Most injections are administered subcutaneously around the abdomen. Intramuscular injections are typically administered in the upper, outer part of the buttocks, which can be more difficult to reach when self-injecting.

If your protocol includes intramuscular injections, consider asking for assistance from your partner, a friend, or a family member. If you need to self-administer, try standing in front of a mirror for a better view of the injection site. You can also ask a nurse or another clinic staff member to circle the injection site on your body so that you can find it more easily.

Like any medical procedure, egg freezing has the potential for some complications. Egg retrieval may cause bleeding and infection, though this is unlikely to occur in most cases.

One rare, but serious, complication of the process is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), an abnormal reaction to stimulation and trigger medications. It is characterized by pain and swelling in the ovaries and sometimes the abdomen. OHSS is treatable, but there are times when a doctor will recommend ending treatment and starting a new egg freezing cycle in the future.

While many women successfully conceive with frozen eggs, it’s important to remember that fertility preservation treatment does not guarantee a successful pregnancy. There are many steps between egg retrieval and pregnancy, including successful thawing, fertilization, implantation, and continued embryo development.

It may also take several cycles to retrieve your target number of eggs, which your doctor will advise you on. An average of 10-15 eggs are needed to achieve a successful pregnancy. Depending on your age and reproductive health, your doctor may recommend freezing more eggs to increase your chances of successfully conceiving.

Not everyone who freezes their eggs will use them. Some women go on to conceive naturally while others decide not to pursue parenthood. As part of your planning, consider what you would do with unused eggs or embryos. Your options include donating them to a person or couple experiencing infertility or to researchers, or having them appropriately discarded by a clinic or storage facility.

Donating eggs will require additional blood work and testing prior to your cycle. Ask your clinic for additional information if you are interested in this option.

Before deciding to pursue egg freezing, it’s important to know how you will pay for the treatment. Egg freezing costs are ongoing, including not only the fertility medications, testing, blood work, and procedures, but also storage fees and in vitro fertilization. (Many clinics store eggs for up to a year as part of the cost of an egg freezing cycle. If your clinic offers this service, you will need to select another storage vendor after a year.)

The total cost of egg freezing depends on various individual factors. Your reproductive health and your age can influence how many egg freezing cycles your doctor recommends. Egg storage duration depends on your personal family building timeline.

It may not be possible to predict the exact total cost of egg freezing, but identifying your reproductive goals and learning more about your reproductive health can help you arrive at a solid estimate. An initial consultation with a fertility clinic is often a helpful first step, providing additional insight into personal health factors.

Some health insurance plans offer partial or full coverage of egg freezing-related costs, including medications and IVF. Note that most insurance plans have separate medical and pharmacy benefits. In most cases, professional services provided by your doctor or clinic will fall under medical benefits, and fertility medications will fall under pharmacy benefits.

A growing number of employers offer egg freezing coverage as part of employee benefits, separate from health insurance. If your employer doesn’t currently cover egg freezing, don’t be afraid to ask. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association has resources to help you start the conversation.

Some fertility clinics offer financing and payment plans to help you manage or lower egg freezing costs. As you explore your options for clinics, we suggest asking these questions:

Based on my specific treatment plan, what is the typical all-inclusive cost?

What is included in the treatment cost and what is not?

Is a year of egg storage included in an egg freezing package?

Can you provide a detailed list of procedures and costs?

What is the typical cost of fertility medications for my treatment plan?

Additionally, some fertility medication manufacturers offer patient assistance programs to alleviate the cost of these expenses. If Alto is your fertility pharmacy, you are likely taking medications manufactured by EMD Serono or Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Both manufacturers have programs that lower the cost of fertility treatment.

Learn how to apply for EMD Serono’s financial assistance programs.

Learn how to apply for Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ financial assistance programs.

Alto is committed to helping you save as much as possible on your fertility medications. Free same-day delivery makes it easy to manage last-minute changes to your treatment plan, preventing fertility medication waste. We also search for savings options and connect you with programs that require you to apply, like the patient assistance programs above.

Egg freezing can be a challenging journey, but Alto is with you every step of the way. To ensure that your treatment plan is followed correctly, we offer free same-day delivery of your medications and fertility resources like personalized injection guide videos and one-on-one consultations with fertility-trained pharmacists.

All third party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by Alto Pharmacy remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, Alto’s use of third party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship or endorsement between Alto and the owners of these trademarks.

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that should only grow in the uterus implants and grows elsewhere. It can cause significant pain in some cases and is often a factor in female infertility.

Various forms of pain relief and fertility treatment can help address endometriosis symptoms and related health complications. Here’s what to know about the condition’s causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

Endometriosis: A Leading and Treatable Cause of Female Infertility

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that should only grow in the uterus implants and grows elsewhere. It can cause significant pain in some cases and is often a factor in female infertility.

Various forms of pain relief and fertility treatment can help address endometriosis symptoms and related health complications. Here’s what to know about the condition’s causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

The endometrium is the tissue that typically lines the lining of the uterus. Endometriosis occurs when this type of tissue grows outside of the uterus, most commonly in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and lining of the pelvic cavity. It may also grow in the intestines, rectum, bladder, vagina, cervix, or vulva. In extremely rare cases, it may be found outside of the pelvic area.

Just like endometrial tissue that grows normally in the uterine lining, the abnormal tissue that characterizes endometriosis thickens and bleeds during each menstrual cycle. However, whereas normal endometrial tissue is shed with the cycle, the abnormal tissue cannot leave the body. This can lead to inflammation and scarring of the surrounding tissue, as well as adhesions that bind the pelvic organs to one another.

In cases of endometriosis where tissue grows in the ovaries, the condition may lead to the development of cysts in the ovaries.

There is a spectrum of severity of endometriosis cases, defined by the amount of excess tissue and resulting cysts, scar tissue, or adhesions. The level of pain, which varies by individual, does not always correlate to the stage or severity of the condition. Pain typically peaks during a menstrual period.

The specific causes of endometriosis have not been identified, but the medical community believes that the following factors may contribute to its development:

Retrograde or reverse menstruation, in which endometrial tissue flows backwards through the fallopian tubes and into the abdomen during a menstrual cycle

Transformation of the cells that line the inside of the abdomen into endometrial-like tissue as the result of hormone or immune factors

Transformation of embryonic cells into endometrial-like tissue during puberty as the result of hormone factors

Attachment of endometrial cells to an incision during surgical procedures such as a hysterectomy or c-section

Transport of endometrial cells to other parts of the body via blood vessels or lymphatic fluid

Issues with the immune system that keep the body from destroying abnormal endometrial tissue

In addition, the following risk factors are often linked to endometriosis:

Getting your first menstrual cycle at an early age

Having an abnormally short menstrual cycle (e.g., less than 21 days)

Abnormally heavy menstrual periods lasting beyond seven days

Other health conditions that prevent the flow of menstrual blood during a menstrual period

There is also evidence that endometriosis may have a genetic component. You may have a higher risk of developing it if you have a mother, sister, or aunt with the condition.

Common symptoms of endometriosis include:

Pain, especially severe menstrual cramps in the abdomen or lower back

Painful urination or bowel movements during menstrual periods

Gastrointestinal issues including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea

Endometriosis can look very different from one individual to another, with varying experiences of symptoms. In some cases, the condition may not be accompanied by any noticeable symptoms.

How endometriosis affects female fertility

Endometriosis is a leading cause of female infertility, as abnormal growth of endometrial tissue can block the fallopian tubes, preventing the fertilization of an egg. It accounts for 24-50% of all female infertility cases, and one-third to one-half of individuals with the condition experience difficulty conceiving.

In mild or moderate cases of endometriosis, surgery to remove adhesions, cysts, and scar tissue is all that is needed to restore fertility. In other cases, additional procedures or fertility treatment may be required.

Getting an accurate diagnosis is critical to effectively treating the condition. However, the diagnosis process can be lengthy, with multiple steps, as symptoms frequently overlap with those of ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

An evaluation for endometriosis begins with a conversation about your health history. Several tests may be used during the diagnostic process, including the following.

A transvaginal or abdominal ultrasound, which provides images of your reproductive organs to help your doctor identify cysts potentially related to endometriosis

A laparoscopy, a procedure that inserts a small camera through the abdomen with the goal of directly identifying endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. This is the only procedure that can definitively confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis.

Severe pain from endometriosis can affect daily activities, and there are a variety of pain relief options, including both medications and surgery. Your doctor will likely try non-surgical interventions as a starting point and recommend procedures if the condition does not respond to initial treatment.

The following treatments may be used to treat discomfort caused by endometriosis or related health issues:

Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen

Supplemental hormones including the male hormone androgen, which can regulate hormonal production or minimize fluctuation to prevent abnormal tissue growth

Hormonal birth control including pills, patches, and vaginal rings, which prevent abnormal tissue growth by decreasing fertility

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, which block the production of estrogen to prevent menstruation

If symptoms do not improve after the treatments above, your doctor may recommend surgery. In addition to its usage during the diagnosis process, a laparoscopy can remove abnormal endometrial-like tissue. 

A hysterectomy, which removes the uterus and cervix, is typically reserved for severe cases. The procedure permanently affects your fertility, and you will not be able to become pregnant after the procedure. It’s important to consult your doctor about your options as well as your reproductive goals before moving forward.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) — a process in which eggs and sperm are fertilized and then placed into the uterus with the potential outcome of a pregnancy — can help individuals experiencing endometriosis-related infertility conceive.

In cases where fallopian tubes are blocked or severe scar tissue is present, your doctor may recommend proceeding directly to IVF before trying to conceive naturally.

Since 2016, Alto has supported more than 50,000 fertility journeys. We understand that fertility treatment is a significant investment — physically, emotionally, and financially — and we see ourselves as a partner in your health.

We offer free, same-day delivery seven days a week and temperature controlled packaging to ensure that your fertility medications always arrive in the right condition. And our fertility-trained pharmacists are available until 9 pm PST (12 midnight EST) on weeknights to offer any support you need.

To learn more, reach out any time through secure in-app messaging or by phone at 1-800-874-5881.

With many variables involved in an individual’s fertility, learning more about your reproductive health can help you manage expectations about your body’s response to fertility treatment. The anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) test, which measures your body’s levels of a hormone associated with ovarian reserve, is one potential source of information for those experiencing infertility.

AMH Testing in Fertility Treatment

While the AMH test can reveal certain factors related to your reproductive health, it is not relevant to all aspects of fertility, or all types of fertility issues. Here’s more about the AMH test, including what it can and can’t tell you.

Anti-mullerian hormone is a hormone that affects how a baby’s reproductive organs develop while in the womb. Male babies have higher levels of AMH than female babies.

AMH is also related to a woman’s ovarian reserve. Cells inside the ovarian follicles — fluid-filled sacs that release an egg during ovulation — produce AMH. An individual's levels of AMH correspond to their egg count, with higher levels of the hormone typically indicating a higher ovarian reserve.

Unlike many other hormones related to reproductive health, AMH levels remain steady throughout an individual’s menstrual cycle. This means that you can have your AMH levels measured at any time, unlike some other fertility-related blood tests.

An AMH test is a blood test that measures your levels of AMH, revealing the approximate number of eggs in your ovarian reserve that may be used for ovulation. It provides a snapshot into one aspect of your fertility, rather than a precise look at the whole picture.

The AMH test consists of a simple blood draw. It typically takes about a week for test results to arrive. There are at-home AMH tests available, however, it is important to discuss the results with a healthcare provider.

Below are general ranges of AMH levels, measured in nanograms per milliliter. Your provider can give you a clearer sense of what your AMH levels indicate.

An AMH test is an indication of the number of eggs remaining in your ovarian reserve. This is particularly relevant to in vitro fertilization (IVF), since one goal of IVF is to retrieve as many mature eggs for fertilization as possible. Your AMH test results may also inform your individual medication protocol for IVF, as they can help your provider anticipate your body’s response to ovarian stimulation medication.

The AMH test can also indicate the pace at which your ovaries are aging.

While AMH levels are helpful for determining egg quantity, they do not reveal anything about the quality of your eggs. Egg quantity factors into IVF success rates — the more eggs retrieved, the higher your chances are of producing multiple healthy embryos that may be placed into the uterus — but quality is also extremely important. It is possible to have a low ovarian reserve but a high percentage of viable eggs, in which case a successful IVF cycle would be more likely.

It is also possible to experience infertility despite having normal AMH levels. Other factors that may affect your ability to conceive include your age, lifestyle habits, ovulation disorders, uterine abnormalities, and endometriosis, among others. Sperm count and mobility also factor into a couple’s fertility. There are many diagnostic tests a reproductive specialist may use to evaluate your remaining egg supply and recommend the best treatment plan.

Read Infertility, Explained for a more comprehensive overview of common fertility issues.

A fertility pharmacy partner you can rely on

At Alto, we’re here for you at every step of your fertility journey. We offer free same-day delivery of your medications, with discreet packaging, fertility resources like personalized injection guide videos and one-on-one consultations with fertility-trained pharmacists, and support with insurance and savings opportunities.

To learn more about how Alto can support your fertility treatment, reach out any time through secure in-app messaging or by phone at 1-800-874-5881.

About 9% of men and 11% of women in the U.S. have faced fertility issues. These challenges may feel overwhelming, but there are a variety of treatment options for both male and female infertility to support your family building journey.

Here’s an overview of the causes and symptoms of male and female infertility and common fertility treatments.

Infertility, Explained

About 9% of men and 11% of women in the U.S. have faced fertility issues. These challenges may feel overwhelming, but there are a variety of treatment options for both male and female infertility to support your family building journey.

Here’s an overview of the causes and symptoms of male and female infertility and common fertility treatments.

Infertility, defined as the inability to get pregnant after twelve months or more of unprotected sex, is a health condition that affects both men and women. Approximately one-third of infertility cases stem from a female reproductive factor, one-third stem from a male reproductive factor, and one-third stem from a combination of both or unknown causes.

These are some common causes of female infertility.

The majority of female infertility cases are caused by problems with ovulation, the release of a mature egg from the ovaries. There are several causes of ovulation disorders, including the following.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition characterized by a hormone imbalance that impacts ovulation. It is the leading cause of female infertility.

Excessive exercise, eating disorders, or stress, each of which can result in hormonal imbalances

Primary ovarian insufficiency, sometimes referred to as premature ovarian failure

Fallopian tube damage or blockage can prevent sperm from reaching an egg, or fertilized eggs from attaching to the uterus. Common causes of fallopian tube damage or blockage include pelvic inflammatory disease — an infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes from chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted infections — or a prior surgery in the abdomen or pelvis, including surgery for ectopic pregnancy.

Uterine or cervical issues such as the following can disrupt the implantation of an egg into the uterus or increase a woman’s risk for miscarriage.

Benign polyps or fibroids may block fallopian tubes or interfere with the implantation of an embryo. However, many women with these growths are able to conceive.

Structural issues with the uterus that are present at birth

Cervical stenosis, a narrowing of the cervix

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that should only grow in the uterus implants and grows elsewhere. The abnormal tissue growth — as well as surgical procedures to remove it — can block the fallopian tubes, preventing the fertilization of an egg. In some cases, endometriosis may interfere with implantation of the fertilized egg, or embryo.

Male infertility is most often an issue of sperm production — including the quantity and quality of sperm produced — or of sperm mobility, which affects the sperm’s ability to find and fertilize an egg. A blockage in the testicle or damage to the reproductive organs can also contribute to male infertility.

Age is a factor in both male and female fertility issues. The quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs begin to decline as she enters her mid-thirties, and age factors into the success rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Many individuals and couples first learn of a fertility issue after trying to conceive without success, and the primary symptom of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. There aren’t always noticeable symptoms, but the following may indicate an underlying fertility problem.

A menstrual cycle that’s irregular, absent, longer than 35 days, or less than 21 days

Unusually light or heavy bleeding during menstrual cycles

Erectile dysfunction or low sex drive in men

Blog

Top Fertility Myths Debunked

What to Consider Before Freezing Your Eggs

Endometriosis: A Leading and Treatable Cause of Female Infertility

AMH Testing in Fertility Treatment

Infertility, Explained

Top Questions to Ask Your Fertility Clinic

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