If you have a love/hate relationship with hormonal birth control, you are not alone. Whether you started birth control to regain control of your menstrual cycle, reduce acne, or prevent pregnancy, you may now be wondering if there are any long-term implications when it comes to your fertility. Specifically, can birth control cause infertility? The short answer is no, but let’s dig in and find out more.  Can Birth Control Cause Infertility? It’s true that birth control is designed to temporarily halt fertility and prevent pregnancy. Once you stop contraceptives, however, your fertility hormones should go...

Endometriosis affects 2 to 10 percent of American women — and for those of us in this percentage, we know its symptoms can be debilitating. Furthermore, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, endometriosis can be found in 24 to 50 percent of women who experience infertility. Not only can endometriosis cause heavy, painful periods, but it can be difficult to treat — especially if you are trying to conceive.  The good news is there are treatment options for you to consider — from natural remedies to hormonal birth control; and some, like excision surgery, may...

Unexplained infertility can be incredibly frustrating because it suggests an underlying diagnosis has not been identified for your unsuccessful attempts at getting pregnant and having a baby. Whether you have been trying to conceive for a while without success, have experienced recurrent implantation failure during IVF, or have grieved multiple miscarriages, it can be devastating not to know the reason behind your inability to get – or stay – pregnant. Typically, the underlying problem involves either the embryo or the endometrium. Most IVF centers offer PGT-A testing to ensure the selection of a normal, or euploid, embryo....

I was 28 when I began trying (and trying and trying) to conceive. As a journalist covering fertility and prenatal health, I had all this information right at my fingertips, but nothing could prepare me for the frustrating, isolating reality of facing fertility challenges before age 30. At the time, my friends all fell squarely into one of two camps: Either they’d gotten pregnant immediately — often before even transitioning from “not not trying” to trying in earnest — or, they were actively avoiding pregnancy. None of them had drawers devoted to ovulation trackers in their...

Sponsored by Organon Kristyn Hodgdon is an IVF mom, current fertility patient, Co-founder and Chief Community Officer of Rescripted. This article is the opinion of the author and reflects the author's views. The author is not a healthcare professional. Let’s set the stage: You may have been trying to conceive (TTC) for a while now. You may think you’re doing everything right, however, month after month you’re hit with that single pink line or the negative symbol on a pregnancy test. With each passing month, you may feel a little bit more helpless and in search of answers. You...

Entering the world of fertility treatments for the first time can be an overwhelming process, to say the least. In my case, dual-factor infertility led my husband and I to pursue IVF to grow our family. However, everyone’s journey is different. With so many varying paths to consider when it comes to taking care of your reproductive health, what’s important to remember is that you’re certainly not walking alone. If you’re considering your own options, here are a few tips I wish I had known before beginning IVF: 1. Realistically, how much time I would need...