What is the definition of infertility, what are its causes in men and women, and what about infertility that has no clear causes, and then what are the most prominent treatment options?
The answer is in this report ...
Infertility is defined as not having children after 12 months of sexual intercourse, and this means that the wife is unable to conceive, and one or both spouses are infertile.
However, for women age 35 and over, being unable to conceive after 6 months is generally considered sterile, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Causes of female infertility
Causes of infertility, delayed pregnancy, difficulty conceiving, or low fertility in women, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, are summarized as follows:
Problems with ovulation, which is the process by which an egg leaves the ovary and travels to meet with sperm.
Some women do not ovulate every month, which increases the difficulty of getting pregnant.
Problems with the reproductive system (fallopian tubes, cervix, uterus, and ovaries).
It may include a blockage, precancerous or non-cancerous tumors, as well as scarring or enlarged ovaries, as well as an abnormal opening in the cervix.
Some disorders such as endometriosis, "Endometriosis", "when uterine tissue grows outside the uterus," or polycystic ovary syndrome, "having enlarged ovaries that contain fluid-filled sacs."
Early menopause, and this may happen before the age of forty.
It may be linked to an immune system disease, cancer treatments, or a genetic syndrome.
As women age, pregnancy becomes more difficult with age.
Cancer treatments, as radiation and chemotherapy affect fertility.
Smoking, alcohol and drug abuse can make pregnancy difficult.
Some medicines, especially those that treat cancer, fungi and ulcers.
Being overweight or underweight can affect fertility as well.
Excessive exercise or too little exercise can affect a woman's chances of getting pregnant.
Delayed puberty or missed periods.
Some diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes - that is, poorly controlled diabetes, where sugar levels are high and outside the required range - and autoimmune diseases, and in these diseases the immune system attacks healthy tissues by mistake.
As well as lupus, celiac disease, also called celiac disease, and Celiac disease, these diseases can make it difficult for a woman to become pregnant.
Causes of infertility or low fertility in men:
The presence of problems in the sperm, such as low number and quality, and the speed at which it moves to fertilize the egg.
Varicoceles, which are enlarged veins inside the loose skin surrounding a man's testicles, can cause a low sperm count.
The presence of a bacterial infection inside the testicles.
Retrograde ejaculation, in which the man's semen goes to his bladder and not out of the penis as it is supposed to.
Autoimmune disorders.
The presence of cancerous or non-cancerous tumors.
The undescended testicle, in which one or both of a man's testicles remain in his stomach, unlike the assumption that the testicles descend from the abdomen to the scrotum when he is born.
Hormonal imbalance.
A blockage in the tubes that carry sperm.
Medicines, especially those that treat cancer, fungi and ulcers.
Smoking, drinking, and drug use.
Exposure to industrial chemicals and heavy metals.
Exposure to radiation and x-rays.
A high temperature in the testicles, and this may happen when wearing underwear or very tight pants, and it can also happen through using a hot tub for long periods.
What about infertility that does not have clear causes?
Infertility is a condition that develops under the influence of a group of circumstances, and that is why it is sometimes difficult or impossible to diagnose the condition and determine the direct cause that prevents pregnancy, according to a report by writer Vladimir Zivotov published by the Russian site "Marie Claire".
The writer cautions that the absence of children within the family should not always be considered linked to the health of the mother, since infertility may affect both men and women.
Although societal norms always push women to first go to the doctor in order to undergo an examination, in reality the treatment journey must include both partners.
The author says that the normal functioning of the female reproductive system is closely related to the coordination of endocrine activity.
These glands operate according to a clear hierarchy, on the head of which is the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in the head, and they are responsible for the continuation of the vital functions of the body, the efficiency of the functioning of the reproductive organs, and any damage to them can affect the chances of pregnancy and childbearing.
The author explains that the pituitary gland is located in the lower part of the brain, and is surrounded by the bones of the skull and the cerebrospinal fluid that protects it from any damage.
But this gland can be affected if the head is severely injured, especially when the forehead or nose area is subjected to severe trauma, so the waves travel through the frontal bone to the ethmoid bone, and then towards the place where the pituitary gland hides.
The writer adds that such trauma can cause a series of pathological effects in the brain tissue, such as spasm of blood vessels, swelling of the marrow, disruption of blood supply to the head and lack of oxygen, and such damage can remain hidden and do not threaten human life, but it has a negative impact on Some vital functions in the body.
The writer explains in the same regard that accidents that affect the pituitary gland cause disorders that lead to excessive or low production of hormones, which affects the efficiency of the reproductive organs, and sometimes causes infertility.
Spine problems
The writer asserts that all problems of the spine may be a cause for concern when spouses seek pregnancy.
As the occurrence of damage to the pelvic bone can impede the process of fertilization and prevent childbearing.
The author explains that the reason behind this is that many of the nerve endings that ensure the work of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes pass through the lumbar vertebrae, and thus when damage occurs to the spine, these nerve endings are damaged.
The writer says that there is another reason also related to the health of the position of the pelvic organs, which is closely related to the ligaments and tendons that connect the sacrum and pelvic bones.
And when a person is exposed to a fall, which is very common when practicing any sport such as cycling, snowboarding or skiing, this fall, which seems not dangerous, may have important consequences.
These accidents may lead to severe stretching of the ligaments that tighten the internal organs.
This leads to lengthening of these ligaments and tendons, and changing the position of the internal organs, which disrupts the functioning of the reproductive system in later stages.
The writer added that the reason for the inability to conceive children should not be thought of as always related to women, as experience has shown that men are the cause in half of the cases, due to weak sperm.
When undergoing fertility tests, a sample of semen must be taken and analyzed to determine the number of sperm, their activity and ability to move.
After performing these tests, urologists can prescribe appropriate treatment.
What is the treatment for infertility?
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, infertility treatment depends on the inhibition of childbearing, so treatment can range from medications to implantation of an embryo through assisted reproductive technology (ART).
For men, treatments include:
Problems that affect fertility, hormonal imbalance or erectile dysfunction, and can be treated with medications.
Other problems, such as blockage of the tubes that carry sperm or a varicocele, can be treated with surgery.
For women, treatments include:
Medicines or surgery as well, depending on the underlying problem.
The most common medications used to treat female infertility stimulate the ovaries, and this helps the ovaries produce more eggs and increases the chances of pregnancy.
Surgery may be performed if there is blockage or problems in the fallopian tube.
It is also used to remove areas of endometriosis, fibroids, and polyps (which are nodular swellings on the surface of the mucous membrane) or scarring, all of which can affect fertility.
In Assisted Reproductive Technology, various techniques are used to help couples become pregnant.
This may help people who have undergone multiple infertility treatments but are still unable to conceive, including:
1- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
In this procedure, healthy sperm is inserted into the woman's uterus around the time of ovulation, and a tube is used to insert the sperm.
2- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
This procedure is more expensive and complicated than intrauterine insemination.
It requires stimulating the ovaries with hormones and taking the eggs from the woman, so that the eggs are fertilized with sperm in the laboratory.
Once a fetus has developed, it is placed in the woman's uterus.