Banafsheh Kashani, MD: Signs and Symptoms of Infertility

Banafsheh Kashani, MD

If a couple has been trying to conceive for 12 months or more, it is considered infertility. And if the couple is older than 35 years old, even 6 months of trying to conceive, it is considered a diagnosis of infertility.

The signs and symptoms of infertility differ from a man to a woman.

For a man, erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory dysfunction—if a man cannot have an erection or ejaculate—could be signs of infertility, Banafsheh Kashani, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN, said in a recent interview with HCPLive®. A man being born with hernias, an undescended testicle, or testicular trauma are all factors that could happen earlier in a man’s life and lead to infertility down the road.

“For women, it’s even more complex,” Kashani said.

One of the biggest things a woman can think about is irregular menstrual cycles. If a woman is irregular, it could be a sign of infertility. Irregularity means the woman is not ovulating, which makes it very hard to get pregnant.

“Your menstrual cycle or your period is really a vital sign to tell you, ‘Are your hormones functioning normally?’ and if they are—if you get very regular periods every month almost the same day, then that’s a good sign,” she said. “And if something deviates from that, that could lead to a sign of infertility.”

Prior pelvic surgeries could also be a sign of infertility, she added, which could lead to lifelong issues.

To learn more about possible signs and symptoms of infertility, check out the rest of the clip below.