Infertility

If you have been unable to become pregnant after a year of unprotected sex, or have had multiple miscarriages, you may be facing infertility. You’re not alone — about 15% of couples are diagnosed with infertility.

From diagnosis to treatment, Rush is committed to doing everything possible to help you have a baby. We start by getting to know you and understanding your goals, before developing a treatment plan that is specific to your needs.

Infertility Causes in Women and Men

Men and women both experience infertility.

• Female causes: Endometriosis, blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes, reduced number of eggs (possibly due to advanced age), hormonal abnormalities, certain cancer and its treatment or fibroids
• Male causes: Decreased sperm counts or slow-moving sperm, hormonal abnormalities, damage from cancer and its treatment, or sexual dysfunction

In about 30% of infertility cases, there are issues with both partners, or no cause can be found. Even if the cause is unknown, Rush providers can create a treatment plan for you.

Diagnosing Infertility

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year, you and your partner should consider fertility testing. Through testing, you may be able to identify the infertility cause and determine which fertility treatment would be most successful.

Female fertility testing:

• Blood tests to check hormone levels
• FSH and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) tests to predict ovarian reserve
• Hysterosalpingography (HSG) X-ray to look for blockages in your Fallopian tubes
• Pelvic ultrasound to learn the size and structure of your uterus and ovaries
• Laparoscopy procedure to examine your reproductive organs for abnormalities
• Luteinizing hormone urine test to predict when you will ovulate
• Thyroid function tests to determine if thyroid disorders are affecting your fertility

Male fertility testing:

• Medical history and physical exam to see if there are physical causes for infertility
• Semen analysis to determine sperm count, shape, appearance and mobility
• Blood tests to look at testosterone and other relevant levels
• Urinalysis to determine if an infection is causing infertility

Infertility Treatment at Rush

After diagnosis, Rush providers and fertility experts will recommend a treatment plan personal to you and your goals of growing your family. Rush providers base your treatment plan on what’s causing your infertility, how long you’ve experienced infertility, your age and certain personal preferences.

• Female treatments: Fertility medications, surgery to improve uterine anatomy and intrauterine insemination (IUI)
• Male treatments: Hormones or medications, changing lifestyle factors, sperm retrieval, surgery to reverse sperm blockage or repair a varicocele, and vasectomy reversals
• Assisted reproductive technology treatments: In vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), frozen embryo transfer (FET), genetic testing to avoid illness in child, assisted hatching, donor eggs or sperm, and gestational carrier

Rush Excellence in Infertility Care

• Nationally ranked for gynecologic care: Rush University Medical Center's gynecology program is ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report.
• One of the most experienced programs in Chicago: Rush University Medical Center’s infertility and reproductive endocrinology program has operated for more than 30 years, and is one of the most experienced programs in Chicago. You’ll have confidence that you’re receiving the best in care with access to the most innovative treatment techniques. As a top academic research hospital, our specialists are heavily involved in researching the most advanced reproductive technologies.
• In-house laboratories offer efficient and expert results: Rush University Medical Center houses both an assisted reproductive laboratory and a full-service clinical andrology laboratory within our Center for Advanced Reproductive Care. They offer comprehensive diagnostic tests, therapeutic processing of semen samples and cyrobanking (sperm, embryo and oocyte storage).
• Member of SART: Rush University Medical Center is a member of the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), the leading organization for infertility professionals. SART clinics commit to the highest standards of patient care and report clinic outcomes so patients can make informed decisions when choosing their providers.
• Specializing in the complex: Although we often treat routine infertility cases, our specialty at Rush University Medical Center is high-risk or complex infertility conditions. This includes patients who have not had success with past IVF procedures, women who are age 40 and older, and those diagnosed with severe forms of infertility. We also partner with Rush's urology program for more challenging cases of male infertility.