Health History
Illnesses (past and present), diseases, conditions, surgeries and medications can all pack a powerful wallop to your reproductive systems. So make a detailed medical dossier for both partners. Don't leave out anything. If you're putting checks in the yes column, get to a doctor.

• Abnormal sexual or reproductive function: Irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty achieving or maintaining erections indicate conception will likely require some form of medical intervention.

• Chronic illnesses and syndromes: Diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension, even peptic ulcers contribute to infertility. Sometimes it is the disease itself. For example, in women, diabetes, hypothyroidism or PCOS often result in ovulatory dysfunction. Untreated, endometriosis (endometrial tissue that grows outside the uterus) leads to scarring and blockages and impairs fertility. Sometimes it is the treatment of a disease which can contribute to infertility: Antidepressants, insulin and thyroid hormones can cause irregular menstrual cycles; Tagamet, used for peptic ulcers, can inhibit sperm production; and high blood pressure meds may interfere with the sperm's ability to fertilize an egg.

• Past illnesses, treatments and surgeries: Did he have mumps around the time of puberty? Or radiation treatment for a cancer like Hodgkin's? Those will have a negative impact on sperm production. Did she have pelvic or abdominal surgery, including an appendectomy? Those cause pelvic adhesions that inhibit conception or result in ectopic pregnancies. Standard D&Cs, even the extended use of an IUD, can scar the uterus, with repeated miscarriages a possible consequence.