OB-GYN
Female Infertility
Your fertility journey is unique, and we’re here to support you with compassion. We work with leading fertility centers to offer the most advanced treatments.
Medically reviewed by Clara Paik, M.D. on Oct. 12, 2023.
What Is Infertility?
Infertility is not being able to get pregnant after at least a year of trying (or six months of trying if you are age 35 and over). Some hormone and reproductive health problems may not prevent you from becoming pregnant (conception). However, they may lead to repeated pregnancy loss.
At UC Davis Health’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN), our specialists understand how difficult and emotional infertility can be. We collaborate with researchers and medical center partners to provide a comprehensive range of infertility services.
On this page
Symptoms of Infertility and Reproductive Health Problems
If you’ve been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for at least a year, this is the clearest sign of infertility.
You may or may not have symptoms of underlying reproductive health problems.
Common Symptoms
Signs of possible reproductive health problems include:
- Bleeding between periods
- History of miscarriages
- No periods or irregular periods
- Pain in your ovaries or uterus
Emergency Symptoms
Call 911 or get medical care right away if you experience:
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Severe lower abdominal pain
Causes of Infertility
Women and men can have reproductive health problems that cause infertility. Sometimes infertility causes are unknown.
Common causes that contribute to infertility in women include:
Endometriosis
Endometriosis happens when uterine tissue grows outside your uterus. This condition can make it more difficult to get pregnant.
Fallopian Tube Conditions
A blockage or scarring in your fallopian tubes can prevent an egg from reaching your uterus and becoming fertilized.
Ovarian Conditions
If you have irregular periods or are not ovulating (releasing an egg with each menstrual cycle), you may need treatment to become pregnant. Conditions such as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), where you stop producing eggs at an early age, can lead to infertility. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is another condition that may cause ovulation problems and infertility.
Uterine Conditions
Growths in your uterus, such as fibroids or polyps, can cause infertility. Problems with the structure of your uterus also may affect your fertility.
Infertility Risk Factors
Risk factors are things that increase your chances of infertility. Be sure to talk about your risk with your provider, especially if you face risk factors such as:
Age
Your fertility decreases as you get older.
Smoking
Smoking increases your risk of infertility.
Weight
Being overweight or underweight increases your risk of infertility.
Diagnosing Causes of Infertility
Diagnosing infertility starts with discussing your health history with your fertility specialist. You will also have a pelvic exam to check for problems that may be affecting your fertility.
You may need additional tests and scans. Our reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialists use leading-edge technology to pinpoint the cause of your infertility.
Possible diagnostic tests include:
- Blood tests to check your hormone levels and look for signs of conditions that may affect your fertility.
- Hysteroscopy or laparoscopy, scoping tests that use tiny cameras to allow your provider to see inside your uterus or examine other organs for problems.
- Scans such as ultrasound to check the structures of your reproductive organs for blockages or other problems.
Treatments for Infertility
Infertility can be stressful and emotional, and we’re here to provide compassionate care and effective treatments. Our reproductive endocrinology and infertility team uses the most advanced research and techniques to give you the fertility help you need.
Our services are inclusive, and we welcome same-sex couples who need help conceiving.
Donors
We participate in programs that provide healthy donated eggs, embryos and sperm.
Insemination
We provide intrauterine insemination (IUI), where we inject sperm into your uterus for egg fertilization.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
There are many steps to IVF. It starts with fertility medications that help your ovaries make more eggs. Then your fertility specialist removes the eggs and combines them with sperm in a lab. Your specialist implants one or more fertilized eggs (embryos) in your uterus.
Medications
You may need medications to treat hormone imbalances, help with egg production or treat other fertility problems.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Treatment
We have a team of endocrinologists who specialize in treating PCOS, which causes hormone imbalances that contribute to infertility.
Tubal Ligation Reversal
If you had tubal ligation (tubes tied), we use the most advanced techniques in the field for reversing this procedure.
Surgery
Our OB-GYN surgeons use the latest minimally invasive techniques. We perform procedures such as fallopian tube reconstructive surgery and fibroid removal. We also do surgery to correct uterine anomalies, which happens when your uterus develops into an abnormal shape.
Infertility affects
1 in 6Adults worldwide
PCOS affects at least
5MWomen in the U.S.
Sources: World Health Organization: 1 in 6 People Globally Affected by Infertility: WHO
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and Diabetes
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Ranked among the nation’s best hospitals
A U.S. News & World Report best hospital in cancer, cardiology, heart & vascular surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, ENT, geriatrics, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, and pulmonology & lung surgery.
Ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals
U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Davis Children’s Hospital among the best in neonatology, nephrology, orthopedics*, pediatric & adolescent behavioral health, and pulmonology & lung surgery. (*Together with Shriners Children’s Northern California)
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital by U.S. News, and high-performing in back surgery, COPD, colon cancer surgery, gynecological cancer surgery, heart attack, heart failure, hip fracture, kidney failure, leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma, lung cancer surgery, pneumonia, prostate cancer surgery, stroke, TAVR, and gastroenterology & GI surgery.
The nation’s highest nursing honor
UC Davis Medical Center has received Magnet® recognition, the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence.
World-class cancer care
One of ~56 U.S. cancer centers designated “comprehensive” by the National Cancer Institute.
A leader in health care equality
For the 13th consecutive year, UC Davis Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization.
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