Its refers to an inability to conceive after having regular unprotected sex. Infertility can also refer to the biological inability of an individual to contribute to conception, or to a female who cannot carry a pregnancy to full term. In many countries infertility refers to a couple that has failed to conceive after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without the use of contraception.
RISK FACTORS OF INFERTILITY
Sexually transmitted diseases
Infections with the following sexually transmitted pathogens have a negative effect on fertility: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and syphilis. There is a consistent association of Mycoplasma genitalium infection and female reproductive tract syndromes. M. genitalium infection is associated with increased risk of infertility.
OTHER CAUSES
INFERTILITY
Factors that can cause male as well as female infertility are:
DNA damage
General factors
Diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders undiagnosed and untreated coeliac disease, adrenal disease.
Hypothalamic-pituitary factors
Hyperprolactinemia
Hypopituitarism
The presence of anti-thyroid antibodies is associated with an increased risk of unexplained subfertility with an odds ratio of 1.5 and 95% confidence interval of 1.1–2.0.[39]
Environmental factors
Toxins such as glues, volatile organic solvents or silicones, physical agents, chemical dusts, and pesticides.[40][41] Tobacco smokers are 60% more likely to be infertile than non-smokers.[42]
Age – a woman’s fertility starts to drop after she is about 32 years old, and continues doing so. A 50-year-old man is usually less fertile than a man in his 20s (male fertility progressively drops after the age of 40).
Smoking
Alcohol consumption
Being obese or overweight
Eating disorders
Being vegan
Over-exercising
Not exercising
Mental stress – studies indicate that female ovulation and sperm production may be affected by mental stress. If at least one partner is stressed it is possible that the frequency of sexual intercourse is less, resulting in a lower chance of conception.
CAUSES OF INFERTILITY IN WOMEN
There are many possible causes of infertility. Unfortunately, in about one-third of cases no cause is ever identified.
OVULATION DISORDERS
Problems with ovulation are the most common cause of infertility in women, experts say. Ovulation is the monthly release of an egg. In some cases the woman never releases eggs, while in others the woman does not release eggs during come cycles.
Ovulation disorders can be due to:
Premature ovarian failure – the woman’s ovaries stop working before she is 40.
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) – the woman’s ovaries function abnormally. She also has abnormally high levels of androgen. About 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age are affected to some degree. Also called Stein-Leventhal syndrome.
Hyperprolactinemia – if prolactin levels are high and the woman is not pregnant or breastfeeding, it may affect ovulation and fertility.
Poor egg quality – eggs that are damaged or develop genetic abnormalities cannot sustain a pregnancy. The older a woman is the higher the risk.
Overactive thyroid gland
Underactive thyroid gland
Some chronic conditions, such as AIDS or cancer.
CAUSES OF INFERTILITY IN MEN
The following are common causes of infertility in men.
SEMEN
Semen is the milky fluid that a man’s penis releases during orgasm. Semen consists of fluid and sperm. The fluid comes from the prostate gland, seminal vesicle and other sex glands.
The sperm is produced in the testicles. During orgasm a man ejaculates (releases semen through the penis). The seminal fluid helps transport the sperm during ejaculation. The seminal fluid has sugar in it – sugar is an energy source for sperm.
Abnormal semen is responsible for about 75% of all cases of male infertility. Unfortunately, in many cases doctors never find out why. The following semen problems are possible:
Low sperm count (low concentration) – the man ejaculates a lower number of sperm, compared to other men. Sperm concentration should be 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen. If the count is under 10 million there is a low sperm concentration (subfertility).
No sperm – when the man ejaculates there is no sperm in the semen.
Low sperm mobility (motility) – the sperm cannot “swim” as well as it should.
Abnormal sperm – perhaps the sperm has an unusual shape, making it more difficult to move and fertilize an egg.
Sperm must be the right shape and able to travel rapidly and accurately towards the egg. If the sperm’s morphology (structure) and motility (movement) are wrong it is less likely to be able to reach the egg and fertilize it.
CAUSES OF ABNORMAL SEMEN
Testicular infection
Testicular cancer
Testicular surgery
Overheating the testicles – frequent saunas, hot tubs, very hot baths, or working in extremely hot environments can raise the temperature of the testicles. Tight clothing may have the same effect on some people.
Ejaculation disorders – for some men it may be difficult to ejaculate properly. Men with retrograde ejaculation ejaculate semen into the bladder. If the ejaculatory ducts are blocked or obstructed the man may have a problem ejaculating appropriately.
Varicocele – this is a varicose vein in the scrotum that may cause the sperm to overheat.
Undescended testicle – one (or both) testicle fails to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum during fetal development. Sperm production is affected because the testicle is not in the scrotum and is at a higher temperature. Healthy sperm need to exist in a slightly lower-than-body temperature. That is why they are in the scrotum, and not inside the body.
Hypogonadism – testosterone deficiency can result in a disorder of the testicles.
Genetic abnormality – a man should have an X and Y chromosome. If he has two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (Klinefelter’s syndrome) there will be an abnormal development of the testicles, low testosterone, and a low sperm count (sometimes no sperm at all).
Mumps – this viral infection usually affects young children. However, if it occurs after puberty inflammation of the testicles may affect sperm production.
Hypospadias – the urethral opening is at the underside of the penis, instead of its tip. This abnormality is usually surgically corrected when the male is a baby. If it is not the sperm may find it harder to get to the female’s cervix. Hypospadias occur in about 1 in every 500 newborn boys.
Cystic fibrosis – Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease that affects organs such as the liver, lungs, pancreas, and intestines. It disrupts the body’s salt balance, leaving too little salt and water on the outside of cells and causing the thin layer of mucus that usually keeps the lungs free of germs to become thick and sticky. This mucus is difficult to cough out, and it clogs the lungs and airways, leading to infections and damaged lungs. Males with cystic fibrosis commonly have a missing or obstructed vas deferens (tube connecting the testes to the urethra; it carries sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct and the urethra).
Radiotherapy – radiation therapy can impair sperm production. The severity usually depends on how near to the testicles the radiation was aimed.
Some diseases – the following diseases and conditions are sometimes linked to lower fertility in males: Anemia, Cushing’s syndrome, Diabetes, Thyroid disease.
Medications
Diagnosis made by collecting a medical and sexual history from both partners. The initial evaluation usually includes a semen analysis, a tubal evaluation, and ovarian reserve testing.
HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH
Homeopathic treatment of infertility is mainly achieved through the administration of constitutional homeopathic medicines found most suitable after a detailed case analysis. A detailed case analysis includes the general physical and mental constitutional make-up of the patient plus the symptoms in the sexual sphere and the underlying cause that is hindering the fertility process and needs to be corrected. Homeopathic medicines for infertility are natural medicines that help by raising the patient’s immunity to remove the obstruction that is hindering the process of fertility in a couple. Homeopathic medicines for infertility are non-toxic and carry no risk of side-effects.