Artificial insemination is a technique where semen is placed in the vagina, cervical canal, or uterus by means other than sexual intercourse, for the purpose of inducing a pregnancy.

If you're using assisted reproduction technology to help you conceive, you might be surprised if your doctor prescribes birth control. They are commonly used to suppress the ovaries before the doctor stimulates a cycle, not allowing your body to ovulate naturally.

Endometriosis (in-doh-me-tree-OH-sis) is a disease in which uterine tissue is found outside the uterus. This tissue can be found on the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, the bladder, and the bowel.

Infertility may be the result of immunologic factors that interfere with the development of the early placenta and the fetus. These immunologic problems are frequently unrecognized.

Infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive a child after a year of unprotected intercourse. According to the American Fertility Society, infertility affects 4.

The treatment of infertility requires careful evaluation to determine the precise abnormalities preventing conception. Outpatient procedures such as laparoscopy (lah-puh-RAW-skuh-pee) and hysteroscopy are now available to check the female pelvic anatomy and to fix any problems contributing to infertility.

Laser surgery is a procedure designed to eliminate abnormal tissue by heating the cells rapidly, turning them to vapor, and suctioning them away from the normal healthy tissue.

Male infertility is an important contributing factor in 40 percent of couples who are unable to conceive. Office procedures, such as artificial insemination, have limited benefits in overcoming male infertility.

Irregular or abnormal ovulation accounts for approximately 25 percent of all infertility cases. Ovulation normally occurs twelve to sixteen days before the onset of menstruation.