SOMERVILLE, Mass., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent online survey of
women aged 20-45, conducted by International Communications Research,
revealed that 58 percent believed that stress causes infertility.  While stress does
impact infertility, it is rarely the major or only cause for the infertility
problems experienced by six million Americans.  In fact, there are many things
that impact a woman's fertility, yet according to the survey, only one in five
women felt well informed about what these risk factors might be.

"Some of these risk factors can be controlled, and women should be aware
of them," said Charles Miller, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist and
gynecologic surgeon and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois and Clinical Associate
at the University of Chicago.  "For example, sexually transmitted diseases can
lead to scar tissue, or gynecologic surgery can cause adhesions to form, both
of which are common risk factors for infertility."

According to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, a woman in her
late 30s is about 30 percent less fertile than she was in her 20s.   However,
43 percent of women surveyed were unsure if there is a specific time in a
woman's life when she should think about preserving her fertility.
Additionally, 15 percent of women did not think there is a specific time in
life that a woman should think about it.

"Women need to be thinking about preserving their fertility even before
they consider starting a family," said Dr. Miller. "Even if your fertility
does not seem at risk now, remember that fertility declines with age."

What Women Can Do To Preserve Their Fertility

While the causes of infertility cannot always be controlled, there are
steps women and men can take to help reduce their chances of experiencing
infertility.  For example, three million procedures are performed each year in
the U.S. for common female health problems such as ovarian cysts, fibroids and
endometriosis, and as many as 90 percent of women undergoing gynecologic
surgery will develop adhesions or internal scarring.

"Any time a woman interested in preserving her fertility undergoes a
gynecologic procedure, she should talk to her doctor about the impact it may
have on her fertility," said Dr. Miller.  "There are things a surgeon can do
to reduce the risk of forming adhesions and help to preserve the woman's
fertility."

Another factor that affects fertility is a woman's weight.  As many women
age, they tend to gain weight.  Both excessive weight gain and significant
weight loss can affect a woman's chances of getting pregnant, so women should
try to maintain a normal body weight and diet.

Because cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption also influence the
ability to conceive, women trying to have a baby should not smoke and should
limit alcohol intake.  Additionally, women who wish to preserve their
fertility should abstain from recreational drug use.

What about Men?

Infertility is not just a woman's problem. About one-third of infertility
is caused by a male factor problem and one-third of cases involve medical
problems of both partners.  A partial list of risk factors for male
infertility includes hernia repair, undescended testicle(s), history of
prostatitis or genital infection, mumps after puberty, presence of varicocele,
scrotal injury and hormonal imbalances.

Additionally, cigarette smoking, use of recreational drugs, alcohol
consumption and even frequent use of hot tubs can impact male fertility.

To obtain more information about fertility, RESOLVE has developed
"Preserving Your Fertility," a brochure that can be accessed through
http://www.resolve.org or by calling the toll-free RESOLVE HelpLine at 1-888-
623-0744.

About RESOLVE

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, currently celebrating its
thirtieth year, offers a variety of resources, including 40 chapters across
the country that provide education and support services.

About the Survey

Results are from a Web-based survey of 800 women ages 20-45.  The margin
of error is +/- 3.5 percent.  This means that for any given percentage within
the report, the true percentage range is within +/- 3.5 percent of that
actually reported.  Interviews were completed between August 10 and August 15,
2004.

On average, the women surveyed for this study were approximately 33 years
of age.  Most were white, married, and have at least some college education.
Additionally, most of these women were employed full-time. The average
household income was approximately $54,000.


SOURCE RESOLVE
Web Site: http://www.resolve.org