Infertility Causes

CAUSES OF INFERTILITY Although getting pregnant may seem like the easiest thing in the world, it is actually not so for many people. There are several reasons for this, and any one or more of the following may be applicable. Infertility is due to a female factor, in 40% of cases, infertility is caused by male factors, in 10% of cases there is a combination of female and male factors and the remaining 10% may be due to unknown cause.

CAUSES OF FEMALE INFERTILITY T ubal obstruction 35% Endometriosis 20% Ovulatory disorders 35%

Other/ unknown factors 10%

CAUSES OF MALE INFERTILITY Primary idiopathic testicular failure Varicocele 12% 10% Male accessory glanmd infecton 7% No demonstrable Abnormal sperm cause 49% morphology 6% Endocrine and other causes 4% Azoospermia owing to obstruction 1%

Other seminal fluid abnormalities 4% Immunological causes 3%

Decreased sperm motility 4%

Advanced age The trend today is for women to complete their education and establish their careers before they think of settling down and starting a family. However, for a woman over the age of 35, conceiving becomes a problem. Infertility increases with age. Tubal infections, fibroid tumors and endometriosis are more

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common

in

older

women

and

are

a

common

cause

for

infertility.

Excessive drinking, smoking, drug use Research has shown that the excessive consumption of alcohol or smoking or the use of illicit drugs by a potential father prior to pregnancy can be the cause of infertility. Illicit drugs can also reduce the sperm count, damage the sperm, reduce testosterone levels, and change testicular functioning. (These are generally ejaculated with the sperm.) Heavy drinking can affect a woman's menstrual cycle as well. Ovulation/menstruation problems Ovulation is a pre-requisite for getting pregnant. In women with regular menstrual cycles of 28-35 days, ovulation takes place once every cycle. However, many women have erratic menstrual cycles (often getting periods 3-4 times a year or even less). This means that they have fewer chances of getting pregnant not only because they have fewer possible fertile periods, but also because they may not be ovulating in every cycle. (Note that ovulation does not necessarily take place in every menstrual cycle).

Polycystic ovaries Cysts are formed when the follicle fails to rupture at the time of ovulation and begins to grow instead. This condition occurs due to hormonal imbalance and is marked by absent or infrequent menstruation. Women having this condition have a chronic tendency to have their periods at intervals ranging from every six weeks to six months. Conception becomes difficult due to irregular ovulation. Low sperm count (for males) The normal sperm count ranges from 20 million and more sperm per ml. Counts below 20 million may be a cause for difficulty in conception. Factors such as fatigue, excessive alcohol, smoking or other drug abuse, prostate gland infection, poor diet, or occupational exposure to chemicals can cause a small, temporary decrease in the sperm count. Varicocele is a condition when there are varicose veins on the scrotum. This is another cause for infertility and can only be corrected through surgery.

Intercourse pattern Very often, you may simply be mistiming your intercourse. In order for you to get pregnant, it is essential for you to have sex during your fertile days. It could also be possible that you may be trying too often in a

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particular

cycle,

and

thereby

causing

a

reduction

in

sperm

count.

Pelvic inflammatory disease and untreated STDs Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a very serious abdominal inflammation that results from untreated vaginal or cervical infections, most commonly chlamydia and gonorrhea. If left untreated, bacteria make their way up through the uterus and into the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and surrounding tissues. PID does serious damage to the reproductive tract, often scarring and blocking the fallopian tubes. Scarring prevents fertilization from ever occurring. PID is one of the major causes of infertility among women of reproductive age. In one study, for example, 21% of the women with PID were infertile compared to only 3% of the women without PID. And the more episodes of PID a woman experiences, the greater her risk for infertility. Abnormal hormone levels

The endocrine system regulates the production, actions, and interactions of hormones. Hormones are produced by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, thyroid gland, pancreas, ovaries, and testes. Diseases that affect any of these structures can lead to infertility, because the activities of all of the hormones are intricately interconnected. An excess or deficiency of any hormone can cause anovulation and infertility. For example, in hypothyroidism, increased levels of prolactin (PRL) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) can affect levels of the sex hormones and may cause infertility. Hypothyroidism can be caused by failure of the thyroid gland, pituitary failure, or disorders of the hypothalamus. In hypopituitarism (failure of the pituitary gland), deficiencies of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone can produce amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation) and infertility in women, and impotence (erectile dysfunction) and infertility in men. Hypopituitarism can also cause TSH deficiency, which results in hypothyroidism. Weight: Women who are substantially heavier or lighter than their ideal body weight are more likely to be anovulatory, and consequently infertile, than women who are within their normal body weight range. Exercise and stress: Strenuous exercise and stress can lead to anovulation and infertility. Eating disorders: A history of eating disorders has been associated with anovulation and infertility.

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