Infertility
What is infertility?
Infertility means not being able to
get pregnant after one year of trying. Or, six months, if a woman is 35 or
older. Women who can get pregnant but are unable to stay pregnant may also be
infertile.
Is infertility a common
problem?
Yes. About 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the
United States ages 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Is infertility just a woman's problem?
No, infertility is not always a woman's problem. Both
women and men can have problems that cause infertility. About one-third of
infertility cases are caused by women's problems. Another one third of
fertility problems are due to the man. The other cases are caused by a mixture
of male and female problems or by unknown problems.
What causes infertility in men?
Infertility in men is most often
caused by:
· A problem called varicocele
(VAIR-ih-koh-seel). This happens when the veins on a man's testicle(s) are too large.
This heats the testicles. The heat can affect the number or shape of the sperm.
·
Movement of the sperm. This may be
caused by the shape of the sperm. Sometimes injuries or other damage to the
reproductive system block the sperm.
Sometimes a man is born with the
problems that affect his sperm. Other times problems start later in life due to
illness or injury. For example, cystic
fibrosis often causes infertility in men.
What increases a man's risk of infertility?
A man's sperm can be changed by his overall
health and lifestyle. Some things that may reduce the health or number of sperm
include:
·
heavy alcohol use
·
drugs
·
environmental toxins, including
pesticides and lead
·
smoking
cigarettes
·
health problems such as mumps, serious conditions like kidney disease, or hormone
problems
·
medicines
·
radiation
treatment and chemotherapyfor cancer
·
age
What causes infertility in women?
Most cases of female infertility are
caused by problems with ovulation. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be
fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular
or absent menstrual periods.
Ovulation
problems are often caused bypolycystic
ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormone imbalance
problem which can interfere with normal ovulation. PCOS is the most common
cause of female infertility. Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is another
cause of ovulation problems. POI occurs when a woman's ovaries stop working
normally before she is 40. POI is not the same as early menopause.
Less common causes of fertility
problems in women include:
· blocked Fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease,endometriosis,
or surgery for an ectopic
pregnancy
·
physical problems with the uterus
·
uterine
fibroids, which are non-cancerous clumps of
tissue and muscle on the walls of the uterus.
How does age affect a woman's ability to have children?
Many women are waiting until their
30s and 40s to have children. In fact, about 20 percent of women in the United
States now have their first child after age 35. So age is a growing cause of
fertility problems. About one-third of couples in which the woman is over 35
have fertility problems.
Aging decreases a woman's chances of
having a baby in the following ways:
·
Her ovaries become less able to
release eggs.
·
She has a smaller number of eggs
left.
·
Her eggs are not as healthy.
·
She is more likely to have health
conditions that can cause fertility problems.
·
She is more likely to have a miscarriage.
How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their
doctors?
Most experts suggest at least one
year. Women 35 or older should see their doctors after six months of trying. A
woman's chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of
30.
Some health problems also increase
the risk of infertility. So, women should talk to their doctors if they have:
·
Irregular periods or no menstrual periods
·
Very painful periods
·
Endometriosis
·
Pelvic
inflammatory disease
·
More than one miscarriage
It is a good idea for any woman to talk to a
doctor before trying to get pregnant. Doctors can help you get your body ready
for a healthy baby. They can also answer questions on fertility and give tips
on conceiving.
Getwell Medical Center - Dr. Sarita Kapoor, MS (Ob & Gyn)
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