Dr. Linda Gedeon
  • Home
  • About Dr. Linda Gedeon
  • Hormone Balance
    • Hormone Balance Solutions >
      • Adrenal Hormone Imbalances
      • Thyroid Hormone Imbalances
      • Ovarian Hormone Imbalances
      • Pancreatic Hormone Imbalances
    • Health Brochures
    • Hormone Cascade
    • Conditions >
      • Irregular Periods
      • PCOS
      • Amenorrhea (absence of periods)
      • Endometriosis
      • MTHFR Polymorphism
      • PMS-PMDD
      • Infertility
      • Hypothyroidism
      • Ovarian Cyst
      • Uterine Fibroids
      • Adrenal Fatigue
      • High Cholesterol
      • Menopause
      • Diabetes
      • High Blood Pressure
      • Osteoporosis
  • Services
  • Appointment Details
  • Video Consultations
  • ChARM Patient Portal
  • Blog
  • Contact

Infertility 

Infertility is the inability of a couple to achieve a pregnancy after repeated intercourse without contraception for 1 year.

Frequent intercourse without birth control usually results in pregnancy:
  • For 50% of couples within 3 months
  • For 75% within 6 months
  • For 90% within 1 year

To maximize the chance of pregnancy, couples should have frequent intercourse for the few days when egg release (ovulation) is most likely—the time when women are most likely to become pregnant. Ovulation usually occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, which is about halfway between the first day of two periods. There are two methods women can use to estimate when ovulation occurs:
  • Measurement of body temperature at rest (basal body temperature)
  • Home ovulation predictor kits

If women have regular periods, they can estimate when ovulation occurs by measuring their temperature each day before they get out of bed. A decrease suggests that ovulation is about to occur. An increase of 0.9° F (0.5° C) or more suggests ovulation has just occurred. However, this method is inconvenient for many women and is not reliable or precise. At best, it predicts ovulation only within 2 days.  Home ovulation prediction kits are more accurate. These kits are used to detect an increase in luteinizing hormone in the urine. (This hormone stimulates the ovaries to trigger ovulation.) Usually, this increase occurs 24 to 36 hours before ovulation. Women usually need to repeat the test for several consecutive days, so kits typically include five to seven sticks. The sticks can be held under a stream of urine or dipped into urine that is collected in a sterile container.  About one in five couples in the United States do not conceive for at least a year and are thus considered infertile.

The cause of infertility may be due to problems in the man, the woman, or both:
  • Problems with sperm (in 35% or more of couples)
  • Problems with ovulation (in 20%)
  • Problems with the fallopian tubes in the pelvis (in 30%)
  • Problems with mucus in the cervix (in 5% or fewer)
  • Unidentified factors (in 10%)

Thus, the diagnosis of infertility problems requires a thorough assessment of both partners. Usually, the assessment is done after at least 1 year of trying to achieve a pregnancy. However, it is done sooner if:
  • The woman is over 35.
  • The woman's menstrual periods occur infrequently.
  • The woman has an abnormality of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
  • Doctors have identified or suspect problems with sperm in the man.

Age is a factor, especially for women. As women age, becoming pregnant becomes more difficult, and the risk of complications during pregnancy increases. Also, women, particularly after age 35, have a limited time to resolve infertility problems before menopause.

Of the couples who have not conceived after a year of trying, more than 60% conceive eventually, with or without treatment. The goals of treatment are to treat the cause of infertility if possible, to make conception more likely, and to reduce the time needed to conceive.

Other health related factors that can cause infertility include: 
  • Hormonal imbalance 
  • Thyroid imbalance 
  • Nutritional deficiencies/poor diet  
  • PCOS 
  • Endometriosis 
  • Obesity 
  • Diabetes 
  • Autoimmune conditions 
  • Smoking/alcoholism 
  • Cancer and chemotherapy 
  • Heavy exposure to radiation and environmental toxins 
  • Very low body weight 

If you are experiencing infertility,  please contact Dr. Linda Gedeon for proper evaluation and to discuss the best treatment options for you.

Home | About | Hormone Balance | Services | Appointment Details | Video Consultations | Events| Brochures | ChARM Patient Portal | Blog | Contact 
Picture
Copyright © 2025 Green Leaf Natural Medicine LLC. All rights reserved. 
1020 SW Taylor St., Suite 806 Portland, OR 97205
  Fax: 888-972-4978 | [email protected] 
This website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
Live Chat Support (Online) ×

Connecting

You: ::content::
::agent_name:: ::content::
::content::
::content::