Infertility Symptoms – Definitions

When a couple is unsuccessful at having a baby after 12 months of unprotected, regular intercourse, they are considered infertile. Infertility is the incapacity to procreate.

Members of the couple react differently after being diagnosed to be infertile. Severe reactions occur more frequently among childless couples.

Infertility, in couples that have never had a child, is referred to as primary infertility.

In another light, secondary infertility refers to couples who had successfully gotten pregnant before but are now having problems conceiving.

Masculinity – The Male Element

Various physical and emotional factors trigger infertility.

“Male factors” like hormone deficiency, low sperm count, impotence, retrograde ejaculation, environmental pollutants and scarring from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) cause roughly 30 to 40% of infertility cases.

Sperm count is greatly affected by certain factors like frequent marijuana use or intake of prescription medicine such as nitrofurantoin, cimetidine and spironolactone.

The Female Factor

Ovarian cysts, tumors, pelvic infection, hormonal imbalances, ovarian dysfunction, enometriosis, fallopian tube abnormalities, scarring from STD are some examples of “female factors.” These are responsible for 40 to 50% of infertility in couples.

Around 10 to 30% of infertility cases are attributed to risk factors from both male and female and other unknown causes.

It is estimated that just 10 to 20% of couples fail to conceive after a year. It is very important for couples to try having a baby for at least 12 months.

Factors Related To Age

Couples who are healthy, are below 30 years old, and have intercourse frequently have just a 25 to 30 per cent chance a month of conceiving. The peak of a woman’s fertility is in her 20s. Women above 35 years of age have a less than 10% chance of getting pregnant, and this declines as they get older.

Others Factors Not Related To Age

Age-related factors are not the only causes of infertility. Infertility may also be worsened by the following:

* Having more than one sexual partner (high STD risk)
* STIs
* History of pelvic inflammatory disease
* Orchitis or epididymitis history in males
* Mumps among men
* Vein engorgement in the scrotum
* Health background citing exposure to DES (both male and female)
* Eating and food disorders among females
* Anovulatory and irregular menstrual cycles
* Endometriosis
* Defects of the uterus (myomas) or blockage of the cervix
* Long-term disease like diabetes

Other Useful Information

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