Causes of female infertility Female infertility can be caused by a variety of factors that affect or interfere with the following biological processes: ovulation, when the mature egg is released from the ovary fertilization, which occurs when sperm meets the egg in the fallopian tube after traveling through the cervix and uterus implantation, which occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus where it can then grow and develop into a baby Risk factors Risk factors for female infertility include: increasing age smoking cigarettes heavy use of alcohol being overweight, obese, or significantly underweight having certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can damage the reproductive system Medical conditions A variety of medical conditions can affect the female reproductive system and cause infertility in women. Examples include: ovulation disorders, which can be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hormonal imbalances pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) endometriosis uterine fibroids premature ovarian failure scarring from a previous surgery Medications and drugs Certain medications and drugs that can affect female infertility include: chemotherapy or radiation therapy long-term use of high-dosage nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin (Bayer) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) antipsychotic medications recreational drugs such as marijuana and cocaine The bottom line According to the Mayo Clinic, ovulation problems cause around one-quarter of the infertility issues seen in couples. An irregular or absent period are two signs that a woman may not be ovulating. Find out more information about the signs of female infertility. Infertility testing If you’ve been trying to conceive and haven’t been able to, you’re likely wondering when you should plan to see a doctor. Read on to discover which tests they’ll perform to assess the fertility of you and your partner. Men Men should plan to see a doctor after one year of trying to conceive or if any of the following apply: erectile dysfunction (ED) problems with ejaculation, such as delayed ejaculation or retrograde ejaculation low sex drive pain or swelling in the genital area having undergone a previous surgery in the genital area Your doctor will first take your medical history. During this time, they’ll ask about your overall health, your sexual history, and factors that could affect your fertility. They’ll also perform a physical examination where they check your genitals for any structural abnormalities or lumps. A semen analysis will likely then be performed. Your doctor will ask you to provide a sample of semen. This sample will then be checked in a laboratory to see how many sperm are present and whether the sperm are shaped normally and moving properly. Depending on the results of your initial exam and semen analysis, your doctor may want to perform additional tests. These tests may include: hormone testing genital ultrasound genetic testing