WSR

 
*This article is meant to be informative, but was not written by a medical professional. If you have further questions about pregnancy achievement or birth control, please consult your doctor or gynecologist.

Most of us are not familiar with our bodies beyond high school biology classes and a brief lesson in 5th grade on the reproductive system. As a brief introduction to this infrequently discussed topic, here are the differences between male and female fertility:

For more information about fertility and the reproductive system, we recommend a great book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. In this book, Weschler explains the Fertility Awareness Method, which can be used as a form of natural birth control, a way to achieve pregnancy, or just to gain better knowledge of your reproductive health. The information in this article was drawn from Weschler's book.

For more information about the different phases of the menstrual cycle, please click on the link on the left-hand side of this page called "Animation of the Menstrual Cycle."

The BYU Health Center also offers a premarital class that will help you understand basic facts about human sexuality, including anatomy and its physiological and emotional responses. The premarital classes suggest ways to help young men and young women to have strong and healthy marriages and provides time for group questions and private answers from a clinician. Birth control education is given and prescriptions are available. For more information, please visit health.byu.edu.

Infertility

Infertility is an issue among many couples trying to get pregnant.  The male or the female could be the partner who is infertile.  For the female, infertility could be a result of many factors:

There are many solutions for those who are struggling with infertility including in vitro fertilization, adoption, or surgical intervention.

This article is meant to provide basic information.  If you have more questions about infertility please visit the BYU Student Health Center or another medical professional, as they will be able to provide more information for your particular situation.