What is Infertility?
Infertility usually happens when a couple cannot conceive after having regular unprotected sex. It may be that one partner cannot contribute to conception, or that a woman is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term. Worldwide, 8 to 12 per cent of couples experience fertility problems and between 45 and 50 per cent of cases are thought to stem from factors that affect the man. Treatments are often available.
What are the causes of infertility in men?
Some times the sperm cannot travel effectively to meet the egg. Semen is the milky fluid that a man’s penis releases during orgasm. Semen consists of fluid and sperm. The fluid comes from the prostate gland, the seminal vesicle, and other sex glands. The sperm is produced in the testicles. When a man ejaculates and releases semen through the penis, the seminal fluid, or semen, helps transport the sperm toward the egg.
Low sperm count: The man ejaculates a low number of sperm. A sperm count of under 15 million is considered low. Around one-third of couples have difficulty conceiving due to a low sperm count.
Low sperm mobility (motility): The sperm cannot “swim” as well as they should to reach the egg.
Abnormal sperm: The sperm may have an unusual shape, making it harder to move and fertilize an egg. If the sperm do not have the right shape, or they cannot travel rapidly and accurately towards the egg, conception may be difficult. Up to 2 per cent of men are thought to have suboptimal sperm. Abnormal semen may not be able to carry the sperm effectively. This can result from;
- A medical condition: This could be a testicular infection, cancer, or surgery.
Overheated testicles: Causes include an undescended testicle, a varicocele, or varicose vein in the scrotum, the use of saunas or hot tubs, wearing tight clothes, and working in hot environments. - Ejaculation disorders: If the ejaculatory ducts are blocked, semen may be ejaculated into the bladder.
- Hormonal imbalance: Hypogonadism, for example, can lead to a testosterone deficiency.
What causes Infertility in women?
The major cause of infertility in females is as a result of Ovulation disorders; Ovulation disorders, meaning you ovulate infrequently or not at all.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): PCOS causes a hormone imbalance, which affects ovulation. PCOS is associated with insulin resistance and obesity, abnormal hair growth on the face or body, and acne. It’s the most common cause of female infertility.
- Hypothalamic dysfunction: Two hormones produced by the pituitary gland are responsible for stimulating ovulation each month — (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Excess physical or emotional stress, a very high or very low body weight, or a recent substantial weight gain or loss can disrupt production of these hormones and affect ovulation. Irregular or absent periods are the most common signs.
- Premature ovarian failure: Also called primary ovarian insufficiency, this disorder is usually caused by an autoimmune response or by premature loss of eggs from your ovary (possibly from genetics or chemotherapy). The ovary no longer produces eggs, and it lowers estrogen production in women under the age of 40.
- Too much prolactin: The pituitary gland may cause excess production of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia), which reduces estrogen production and may cause infertility. Usually related to a pituitary gland problem, this can also be caused by medications you’re taking for another disease.
- Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes keep sperm from getting to the egg or block the passage of the fertilized egg into the uterus.
- Endometriosis occurs when tissue that normally grows in the uterus implants and grows in other locations. This extra tissue growth and the surgical removal of it can cause scarring, which may block fallopian tubes and keep an egg and sperm from uniting.
- Uterine or cervical causes: Several uterine or cervical causes can impact fertility by interfering with implantation or increasing the likelihood of a miscarriage.
- Benign polyps or tumours (fibroids or myomas) are common in the uterus: Some can block fallopian tubes or interfere with implantation, affecting fertility. However, many women who have fibroids or polyps do become pregnant.
All of these can be treated by visiting the right healthcare givers.
References
- American pregnancy. Infertility. Accessed on 25th of Septemeber 2018