It can be incredibly sad and frustrating when a couple wants to have a baby, but has no luck in succeeding. Fertility problems can be on either the woman's side, or the man's side. Sometimes both the man and the woman in the relationship have fertility problems.
Generally, if a couple has been trying to get pregnant for 12 months, and has been unsuccessful, this would render a trip to the doctor's office. Healthy couples with no fertility issues have a 20% chance of conceiving in each cycle (according to Women's Health And Fertility). About 85% of couples should get pregnant within 12 months.
Infertility has common causes and treatments to counteract this problem. About 90% of the time, the problem lies with the following: ovulation and quality of eggs, blocked fallopian tubes and male infertility.
Ovulation And Quality Of The Egg
Some women do not ovulate, mainly due to age (over 37) or hormonal imbalances. If the egg is not released, there is no chance for conception to occur.
Age can also be a factor in poor egg quality. Egg quality refers to how prepared the eggs are to develop into an embryo once fertilization has occurred. The egg needs to have the proper chromosomes, as well as the ability to mix these chromosomes with sperm. If the egg does not have the right number of chromosomes, it will be impossible to get pregnant.
Ovulation can also be affected by a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). This condition is the result of the ovaries failing to produce hormones that support a regulated menstrual cycle. Since women with PCOS do not have regular periods, many are unable to ovulate and conceive (according to Insulite Laboratories). A symptom of this condition is having nine or fewer menstrual cycles per year.
Treatment for ovulation and egg quality issues can include IVF (in vitro fertilization), fertility medications, and using donor eggs.
Blocked Fallopian Tubes
The two fallopian tubes are the site of egg passage to the uterus. A blocked tube will prevent the egg from getting to the uterus. Thus, pregnancy will be impossible since sperm cannot get to the egg to fertilize it, nor can the egg get to the uterus for implantation.
Causes of blocked tubes include:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Endometriosis
- Damaged tube ends
- Scar tissue
Treatment for blocked fallopian tubes usually includes in vitro fertilization. If the blockage is limited to a small area, it may be possible to clear it with surgery to remove the blocked portion.
Male Infertility
Fertility problems in men can be caused by a variety of factors. One possible cause is a blockage in the ejaculatory duct that prevents sperm from getting into the ejaculate. The epididymis is a coiled tube that stores sperm, and the vas deferens are the tubes that transport sperm from the epididymis to ejaculate. If these tubes are blocked, sperm cannot pass through, and therefore cannot get to the egg (according to MaleInfertilitySpecialists.com).
Other causes of male infertility include:
- Poor sperm quality
- Sperm's inability to move efficiently
- Semen deficiency
Treatment for male fertility includes surgery to clear blocked ducts if they are present. If fertility problems in men are due to another one of the above causes, treatment can include fertility drugs to increase sperm production. Artificial insemination can also be performed to increase the probability of conception.
Other solutions are more invasive and expensive, and include intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which involves injecting sperm directly into the egg (as per HealthLink BC). Donor sperm can also be used if the sperm quality is poor.
Other Causes Of Fertility Problems
While the above mentioned situations account for most couples' fertility problems, there are other reasons for infertility. These include:
- Endometriosis
- Miscarriage
- Other unexplained conditions
Reasons for fertility problems, and their subsequent treatments, should always be discussed with, and be diagnosed by, a medical practitioner. He or she may then refer the couple to a fertility specialist.
For more information on getting pregnant, please visit: www.complete-pregnancy-guide.com
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