Have you and your spouse attempted unprotected sex for over a
year and have not been able to get pregnant? If so, then you are one of
over 5 million individuals who is experiencing infertility. Some women
may be able to get pregnant but are unable to carry the child full term
may also be considered infertile.
Approximately 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the United States ranging in age from 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant. Infertility is rarely just a woman's problem. Both women and men may have problems that cause infertility. Women's issues cause about one-third of infertility cases, one third are due to the man and the other cases are caused by a mixture of both or by unknown issues.
The following most often causes infertility in men:
o Varicocele: (VAIR-ih-koh-seel). the veins on a man's testicle(s) are too large and this raises the core temperature in the testicles which can affect the number or shape of the sperm or may cause a man to make too few sperm or none at all.
o Sperm movement is irregular: shape of the sperm may cause this irregularity and an injury may also lead to the reproductive track being blocked and not allowing proper sperm movement.
o Birth defect: a man may be born with issues that affect his sperm.
o Illness & Over-all health: illness such as cystic fibrosis often causes infertility in men. Sperm may be altered by a man's overall health & lifestyle.
Things that may reduce the health or number of sperm include:
1. Heavy alcohol use
2. Drugs
3. Smoking cigarettes
4. Age
5. Environmental toxins including pesticides & lead
6. Health problems such as mumps, kidney disease, or hormone problems
7. Medicines
8. Radiation treatment & chemotherapy
The most common cases of infertility in women are problems with ovulation. Simply put ovulation is the process of delivering the egg to the uterus to be fertilized. Irregular and/or absent menstrual periods are usually the first and most common signs of an ovulation issue.
PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a primary cause of ovulation issues and female infertility. This is a hormone imbalance that may create an issue with a normal ovulation cycle.
Another cause of ovulation issue can be related to Primary ovarian insufficiency or (POI). This occurs when the ovaries are not working properly. POI is generally an issue up to the age of 40 and is not the same as early menopause or peri-menopause.
Other know but less frequent infertility issues in women include:
o Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an entopic pregnancy
o Physical problems with the uterus
o Uterine fibroids: non-cancerous clumps of tissue and muscle on the walls of the uterus.
Lifestyle issues may also change a woman's ability to have a baby. They include:
1. Age
2. Smoking
3. Excess alcohol use
4. Stress
5. Poor diet
6. Athletic training
7. Being overweight or underweight
8. Sexually transmitted infections
9. Health problems that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency
The most encouraging thing there is about infertility is the results that we are seeing here in the United State. Over 80% of individuals to be diagnosed with some form of infertility are able to over come the issues and are able to conceive a child. There are so many natural options available that IVF should be the last option attempted for many reasons but mainly due to the risk of multiple births and the expense associated with this form of treatment.
Approximately 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the United States ranging in age from 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant. Infertility is rarely just a woman's problem. Both women and men may have problems that cause infertility. Women's issues cause about one-third of infertility cases, one third are due to the man and the other cases are caused by a mixture of both or by unknown issues.
The following most often causes infertility in men:
o Varicocele: (VAIR-ih-koh-seel). the veins on a man's testicle(s) are too large and this raises the core temperature in the testicles which can affect the number or shape of the sperm or may cause a man to make too few sperm or none at all.
o Sperm movement is irregular: shape of the sperm may cause this irregularity and an injury may also lead to the reproductive track being blocked and not allowing proper sperm movement.
o Birth defect: a man may be born with issues that affect his sperm.
o Illness & Over-all health: illness such as cystic fibrosis often causes infertility in men. Sperm may be altered by a man's overall health & lifestyle.
Things that may reduce the health or number of sperm include:
1. Heavy alcohol use
2. Drugs
3. Smoking cigarettes
4. Age
5. Environmental toxins including pesticides & lead
6. Health problems such as mumps, kidney disease, or hormone problems
7. Medicines
8. Radiation treatment & chemotherapy
The most common cases of infertility in women are problems with ovulation. Simply put ovulation is the process of delivering the egg to the uterus to be fertilized. Irregular and/or absent menstrual periods are usually the first and most common signs of an ovulation issue.
PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a primary cause of ovulation issues and female infertility. This is a hormone imbalance that may create an issue with a normal ovulation cycle.
Another cause of ovulation issue can be related to Primary ovarian insufficiency or (POI). This occurs when the ovaries are not working properly. POI is generally an issue up to the age of 40 and is not the same as early menopause or peri-menopause.
Other know but less frequent infertility issues in women include:
o Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an entopic pregnancy
o Physical problems with the uterus
o Uterine fibroids: non-cancerous clumps of tissue and muscle on the walls of the uterus.
Lifestyle issues may also change a woman's ability to have a baby. They include:
1. Age
2. Smoking
3. Excess alcohol use
4. Stress
5. Poor diet
6. Athletic training
7. Being overweight or underweight
8. Sexually transmitted infections
9. Health problems that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency
The most encouraging thing there is about infertility is the results that we are seeing here in the United State. Over 80% of individuals to be diagnosed with some form of infertility are able to over come the issues and are able to conceive a child. There are so many natural options available that IVF should be the last option attempted for many reasons but mainly due to the risk of multiple births and the expense associated with this form of treatment.
No comments:
Post a Comment