Causes of Infertility
Infertility is the inability of a couple to become pregnant (regardless of cause) after 1 year of unprotected sexual intercourse (using no birth control methods). Infertility affects about 6.1 million people in the United States, about 10% of men and women of reproductive age.
Infertility affects men and women equally.
Most infertility cases (85-90%) are treated with medication or surgery. Improvements in fertility treatment have made it possible for many women whose male partner is infertile to become pregnant. These new and advanced technologies include in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic
sperm injection (ICSI), and other similar procedures.
Causes
The normal reproduction process requires interaction between the female and male reproductive tracts. The woman ovulates and releases an egg from her ovaries to travel through the fallopian tube to her uterus (womb). The male produces sperm. Both egg and sperm normally meet in the woman’s fallopian
tube, where fertilization occurs. The embryo then implants in the uterus for further development.
Infertility occurs when something in this pattern does not happen. The problem could be with the woman, with the man, or with both. Unknown factors cause infertility 10% of the time. For infertility with an unknown cause, all findings from standard tests may be normal. The actual cause of infertility may not be detected because the problem may be with the egg or sperm itself or with the embryo and
its inability to implant.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Sexually transmitted diseases, namely, gonorrhea and chlamydia, may be associated with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and damage a woman’s fallopian tubes. Your health care provider can detect PID with a Pap smear and blood testing for sexually transmitted diseases.
If you don’t recall ever having PID, your doctor may be able to see scarring or blockage of the tubes during a surgical procedure called laparoscopy. Tiny cameras and instruments are inserted through small cuts in your abdomen to allow the doctor to view your reproductive organs.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects women during their reproductive years. It can cause pelvic pain and infertility. You may be at risk for developing it if you have a family history of the disease. With endometriosis, uterine lining tissue grows outside the uterus and may damage the ovaries and fallopian tubes. You may not know you have a mild form of this condition. Sometimes your doctor finds it during laparoscopy.
Environmental and occupational factors
Certain environmental factors may cause men to produce a less concentrated sperm, according to a government report. Exposure to lead, other heavy metals, and pesticides has also been associated with male infertility. Many other factors, such as excessive heat exposure, microwave radiation, ultrasound, and other health hazards, are more controversial as to whether they induce infertility.
Toxic effects related to tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs
Smoking may cause infertility in both men and women. In experimental animals, nicotine has been shown to block the production of sperm and decrease the size of a man’s testicles. In women, tobacco changes the cervical mucus, thus affecting the way sperm reach the egg.
Marijuana may disrupt a woman’s ovulation cycle (release of the egg). Marijuana use affects men by decreasing the sperm count and the quality of the sperm. Heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine use induces similar effects but places the user at increased risk for PID and HIV infection associated with risky sexual
behavior.
In women, the effects of alcohol are related more to severe consequences for the fetus. Nevertheless, chronic alcoholism is related to disorders in ovulation and, therefore, interferes with fertility. Alcohol use by men interferes with the synthesis of testosterone and has an impact on sperm concentration.
Alcoholism may delay a man’s sexual response and may cause impotence (unable to have an erection).
Exercise
Exercise should be encouraged as part of normal activities. However, too much exercise is dangerous, especially for long-distance runners. For women, it may result in disruption of the ovulation cycle, cause no menstrual periods, or result in miscarriages (loss of pregnancy). In men, overexercise may cause a low sperm count.
Inadequate diet associated with extreme weight loss or gain
Obesity is becoming a major health issue in the United States. Obesity has an impact on infertility only when a woman’s weight reaches extremes.
Weight loss with anorexia or bulimia can create problems with menstrual periods (no periods) and thyroid levels, thus disrupting normal ovulation.
Age
A woman becomes less fertile as she ages into her fifth decade of life (age 40-49 years). Among men, as they age, levels of testosterone fall, and the volume and concentration of sperm change.
Healthy couples younger than 30 years who have regular sexual intercourse and use no birth control methods have a 25-30% chance of achieving pregnancy each month. A woman’s peak fertility is early in the third decade of life. As a woman ages beyond 35 years (and particularly after age 40 years), the likelihood of becoming pregnant is less than 10% per month.
Infertility is surely a big concern for many couples now-a-days. Early detection of the problem, proper medical treatment and sensible planning are necessary to overcome this problem.
This original article is presented to you by MyHealthToday.com © 2009
This original article is presented to you by © MyHealthToday.com
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