Infertility
By: Tsou JinyeuTotal Views: 59, Word Count: 581,
The biological inability of a person to conceive and have offspring is called as infertility. Irreversible infertility is sterility. Infertility is also the case when the woman is not able to carry a pregnancy to the full term.
Women experience a natural period of fertility before and during ovulation and they are naturally infertile during the rest of the period. Infertility may be due to woman or man rarely both.
Infertility
A couple is infertile if:
1. The couple has not conceived after one year of contraceptive free intercourse
2. If the couple has not conceived after 6 months of contraceptive free intercourse where the female is over 35 years of age
3. Female is incapable of carrying the pregnancy for the full term
Subfertility
1. A couple is subfertile when they have tried to have a child for a year. This simply means that they are less fertile than other couples
2. The causes could be same as that of infertility like endometriosis or polycystic ovaries
Primary infertility and secondary infertility
1. Primary fertility refers to the couples who have never conceived
2. Secondary infertility refers to the difficulty in conceiving after already having been conceived
Causes of infertility (infertility in women)
1. Ovulation problems
2. Polycystic ovaries
3. Uterine problems
4. Previous tubal litigation
5. Tubal blockage
6. TB
7. Previous vasectomy
8. Damage in fallopian tube
9. Genetic factors
10. Diabetes and thyroid disorders
Male infertility
1. Absence of sperm
2. Low sperm count
3. Immotile sperm
4. Sperm transportation disorder or blockage of sperms
Unexplained fertility
1. Sometimes investigation does not show any abnormality ar are not detected. This is possible as the egg Is not released during the optimum time for fertilization
2. It may not enter the fallopian tube or sperm is unable to reach the egg
3. Fertilization may not take place or the zygote is disturbed or the implantation fails
Infertility treatment
1. If both the partners are healthy, your doctor may prescribe a course to stimulate ovary
2. A conception cap may be used increase the chances of fertilization by retaining the sperms for a longer duration
3. Intrauterine insemination in which your doctor injects sperms in the uterus during ovulation with the help of catheter
4. In vitro fertilization is suggested if conservative medical treatments fail. In this case fertilization takes outside the body and the fertilized egg is reinserted in the woman’s reproductive tract (embryo transfer)
5. Hormone-antioxidant combination therapy is also used to improve the sperm count and take care of motility
6. Acupuncture may be performed before the IVF embryo transfer to increase the chances of pregnancy
7. Flotation therapy is helpful in case the infertility is due to stress
Psychological effects of infertility
1. Infertility has a major impact on the couple psychology. It may result in anxiousness to conceive and may result in increasing sexual dysfunctionin
2. Marital disorders and tensions are seen in the family
3. Clinical depression is very common in women with infertility problems
4. Emotional stress and difficulties are seen when the infertility lies with the man
5. The stigma is unbearable and results in anxiety and disappointment and has a big social impac
Infertility is a serious issue and it may be male infertility or infertility in women. There are infertility blogs and infertility forums that help to reduce the psychological effects of infertility. This article on infertility gives detailed information about infertility problems, infertility treatment and other related things
About the Author
Dr Tsou Jinyeu is a well known gynecologist and has been in this field since 1995. His special interests are – genetic and birth defects, high risk obstetrics, lupus in pregnancy, premature labour, premature delivery, triplets and ultrasound diagnosis. He is graduated from the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine. Nowdays he is working as a medical doctor at Elmhurst Loyola Center for Health.
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