title: Role of female pelvic anatomy in infertility.
abstract: Infertility is defined as a couple's failure to achieve pregnancy after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. The etiology of infertility can be due to female factors, male factors, combined male and female factors, or have an unknown etiology. This review focuses on the role of female pelvic anatomy in infertility. Normal anatomy and the physiology of reproduction will be discussed, as well as the anatomic and pathophysiologic processes that cause infertility including ovulatory disorders, endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, tubal blockage, mullerian anomalies, and abnormalities affecting the uterine cavity such as leiomyomata and endometrial polyps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. mglocker@uab.edu
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris-Glocker
authors.forename: Janet F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: McLaren
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000503:physiopathology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications*; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000150:complications; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000150:complications; D014599:Uterus / Q000002:abnormalities