Starting or Growing a Family: Navigating Fertility Challenges

Starting or growing a family is a dream for millions of couples, but some face challenges in achieving pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization, almost 1 in 6 adults and 10 percent of couples experience infertility, creating difficult situations for families who dream of having a baby.

The statistics highlight the importance of innovative fertility treatments designed to fulfill the dreams of individuals longing to conceive and build a family. For those who have tried unsuccessfully for at least a year, women over age 35, those with a history of sexually transmitted infections, those in need of donor sperm or those who have faced reproductive issues such as miscarriages, the expert reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) physicians at OU Health Reproductive Medicine are here to provide support.

“This can be heartbreaking and difficult for families to navigate,” said OU Health Reproductive Medicine fertility specialist Dr. LaTasha Craig, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology and Section Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) at OU College of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences. “We have helped thousands of Oklahoma families realize their dream of having a child, and with more and more families turning to us for help, the work we do is vitally important to not only the future of our state, but for the health of our families.”

OU Health REI experts are focused on getting results with the most forward-thinking and innovative fertility treatment solutions. Their focus extends beyond medical interventions to include the overall well-being of families. Whether through check-ups, testing, diagnostics, or treatments, their goal is to help families reach their fertility objectives.

Fertility by the Numbers

In 1978, the first baby was conceived by In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Since then, more than 8 million people have been born through IVF, with success rates continuing to increase.

The National Infertility Association estimates that 868,106 Oklahoma women under the age of 44 have fertility issues. The work of the OU Health Reproductive Medicine team from start to miracle has made the dream of having babies a reality for thousands of Oklahoma families.

Oklahoma has more polycystic ovary syndrome cases and rates of obesity that affect fertility than other states, comparatively. Based on data from the last 6 months, the OU Health Reproductive Medicine will see 21,012 total visits per year with 1,558 new visits. Each year, the REI clinic averages 21,000 visits from new and existing patients, and more than 4,200 families have had babies with the help of the clinic, many returning to have more babies.