The Causes Of Infertility
Break The Barriers to Conception
Infertility is estimated to affect about 1 in 10 couples
of reproductive age. Infertility is officially identified
after a couple has been trying to have a baby for more than
one year, coupled with appropriately timing intercourse to
match the female’s ovulation cycle.
Actually, there are many causes of infertility, and issues
regarding infertility can be related to either female factors
which is present in about 35% of infertile couples, and as
well as male factors which present in another 35% of infertile
couples, there is 20% of couples with a combination of male
and female factors and it can completely unexplained in 10%
of cases.
Female Infertility
Maternal age seems to be one of the most obvious causes of
infertility in women. Women are born with all of the eggs
they will ever have, it is a fact that females do not produce
more eggs as they age. During the period of mid to late 20s
is the peak for female fertility and maternal age older than
35 is a significant cause of infertility in females.
Ovulatory difficulties are another obvious cause of infertility
in women, and women who only ovulate sporadically generally
have a more difficult time getting pregnant. Ovulatory difficulties
can be associated to high stress levels, drastic weight loss
or gain, excessive exercise or anorexia and hormone imbalances.
In addition, one common disorder, which is known as PCOS or
polycystic ovarian syndrome is also one of the causes of infertility
which is directly attributable to ovulation difficulties.
Women who suffer from this disease tend to have multiple cysts
on their ovaries that interfere with ovulation.
Other than ovulation difficulties, female factor infertility
can result from “structural” issues with the female’s
anatomy. Problems with the uterus can prevent implantation
of a fertilized egg. These factors can include a bifurcated
uterus, where the uterine wall is misshapen, polyps or cysts
in the uterus. Cervical mucous, which helps to facilitate
the sperm’s journey to the egg, might also be cause
of infertility. “Hostile” cervical mucous can
occur naturally, can happen because of fertility drugs and
can also result from an allergic reaction to sperm. Finally,
scar tissue which results from previous trauma, sexually transmitted
diseases, abdominal surgery or a disease called endometriosis,
can be another cause of infertility in women.
Male Infertility
Infertility in men is usually due to problems with the number
or quality of sperm produced. Unlike women, men will keep
producing fresh sperm, hence paternal age is relatively limitless
and men have been known to conceive well into their 70s.
Therefore, male factor causes of infertility are also associated
with stress, genetic disorders that affect how sperm is produced,
issues with varicose veins in the testes, and autoimmune disorders
in which men produce antibodies against their own sperm.
Besides that, high scrotal temperatures, which is associated
with varicose veins, wearing tight underwear, and regular
use of hot tubs or saunas also represent a major cause of
infertility in men.
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