What is infertility?
This is a condition whereby someone is not being able to get pregnant, despite the fact that you try to get pregnant by having unprotected sex for about a year or above. In the United States alone, there is about 10 to 15 percent of infertile couples. The case of infertility may arise from your partner, yourself, or both parties involved. There is absolutely nothing to worry about as there are proven therapies that can improve your chances of getting pregnant, all you have to do is to get a reliable and professional healthcare provider and get your problem solved.
Symptoms
The only symptom of infertility is not able to get pregnant. Some obvious symptoms may not occur. Most times, in women, they will experience menstrual pains and irregular monthly periods. A man with infertility condition will experience hormonal problems like sexual function, change in the growth of hair.
When is the right time to see a doctor?
In most cases, you don’t have to see a doctor for not being able to give birth, until you have tried to for at least a year and see no positive result. Women should see a doctor when they are:
- At the age of 35 and have tried to get pregnant for at least 6 months or more.
- At the age of 40 and above.
- Have a painful periods
- Irregular/ absent periods
- Have infertility problem
- Have done cancer treatment before
- If you had some miscarriages before
- Diagnosed with pelvic inflammation.
Causes of infertility in men
Some major causes of infertility in men today are:
- Low sperm production: For a woman to be able to get pregnant, the man must be able to produce quality sperm, the inability of the man to do so will result in infertility. Health problems can affect the quality of sperm that is needed to get a woman pregnant, such as gonorrhea, diabetes, varicocele, etc.
- A problem in sperm delivery: This can cause infertility when there is a problem delivering the sperm, like early ejaculation, a blockage in the testicles, reproductive organ injury.
- Certain environmental problems: The kind of environment that men expose themselves to can affect fertility, such as frequent heat exposure can affect sperm production, smoking, marijuana, drinking of alcohol, etc.
- The danger caused by cancer: Some damages that are incurred in the treatment of cancer such as chemotherapy and radiation can lead to low sperm production.
Causes of infertility in women
Some things that can affect fertility in women are as follows:
- Disorder in ovulation: This can affect the release of an egg from the ovary.
- Blockage of the fallopian tube: This is caused by a medical condition known as salpingitis, which is the inflammation of the fallopian tube.
- Uterine abnormality: This arises from abnormalities with the shape of the uterus, cervix, or polyps.
- Cancer and treatment: The treatment from cancer can affect fertility in women.
- Ovarian insufficiency: This is when a woman experiences early menopause before getting to the age of 40.
Diagnosis and treatment
When you are facing this condition just to visit a doctor and make them understand your problem, they will recommend ways to improve your chance of getting pregnant. Treatment of infertility in men and women includes:
- Medications
- Surgery
- Lifestyle changes
- Retrieval of sperm
- Ovulation stimulation with fertility drugs
- Insemination
There are methods that are used medically to treat this condition, make sure you find a trusted and professional doctor to examine you when you have tried to get pregnant in six months and above.
