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INFERTILITY

Infertility means you cannot make a baby (conceive).

Infertility is grouped into two categories:

Primary infertility refers to couples who have not become pregnant after at least 1 year of unprotected sex (intercourse).
Secondary infertility refers to couples who have been pregnant at least once, but never again.

Causes

A wide range of physical and emotional factors can cause infertility. Infertility may be due to problems in the woman, man, or both.

FEMALE INFERTILITY:

Female infertility may occur when:

A fertilized egg or embryo does not survive once it sticks to the lining of the womb (uterus)
The fertilized egg does not attach to the lining of the uterus
The eggs cannot move from the ovaries to the womb
The ovaries have problems producing eggs

Female infertility may be caused by:

Autoimmune disorders, such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)
Cancer or tumour
Clotting disorders
Diabetes
Growths (such as fibroids or polyps) in the uterus and cervix
Birth defects that affect the reproductive tract
Excessive exercising
Eating disorders or poor nutrition
Use of certain medications, including chemotherapy drugs
Drinking too much alcohol
Obesity
Older age
Ovarian cysts and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Pelvic infection or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Scarring from sexually transmitted infection or endometriosis
Thyroid disease
Too little or too much hormones

MALE INFERTILITY:

Male infertility may be due to:

A decrease in sperm count
Sperm being blocked from being released
Sperm that do not work properly

Male infertility can be caused by:

Environmental pollutants
Being in high heat forprolonged periods
Birth defects
Heavy use of alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine
Too little or too much hormones
Impotence
Infection
Older age
Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation
Scarring from sexually transmitted diseases, injury, or surgery
Retrograde ejaculation
Smoking
Use of certain drugs, such as cimetidine, spironolactone, and nitrofurantoin

In healthy couples under age 30 who have sex regularly, the chance of getting pregnant is about 25 - 30% per month.

A woman's peak fertility occurs in her early 20s. After age 35 (and especially 40), the chances that a woman can get pregnant drops considerably.

Symptoms

The main symptom of infertility is the inability to become pregnant. Specific symptoms depend on what is causing the infertility. Infertility can cause many painful emotions in one or both partners.

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