Q. What is infertility ?

Infertility is defined as the failure to conceive after a year of regular unprotected intercourse, or the inability to carry a pregnancy to a live birth.

Q. What causes infertility ?

Most infertility results from physical problem in either man or woman’s reproductive system. Some causes includes Problems with man’s reproductive system Problem with woman’s fallopian tubes Problem with woman’s uterus and / or cervix Problems with woman’s ovulation. Unknown reason.

Q. Why does a woman become infertile ?

-Infertility in a woman may stem from many causes, such as hormonal imbalance, problem in reproductive system, illness or unknown factors. The most likely causes for female infertility are

– Pelvic Inflammatory disease [PID]

PID is the most common cause for infertility. It is an infection of the pelvis. One or more of the reproductive organs , like ovaries and / or tubes, cervix or uterus are infected.

– Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS]

In PCO, the ovaries produce high amounts of male hormones especially testosterone. LH hormone level remain abnormally high while FSH levels are low, thus the follicles do not produce eggs. Instead they form fluid – filled cysts that eventually cover the ovaries.

Endometriosis refers to a condition in which sections of the uterine lining implant in the vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes or pelvis . These implants eventually form cysts that grow with each menstrual cycle, and may eventually turn into blisters and scars. The scars can then block the passage of the egg.

Ovarian problems :-

Problems within the ovaries may inhibit reproduction

Hormonal problems :-

Decreased production of any one of the five hormones that regulate a woman’s reproductive cycle may result in infertility. Thyroid deficiency may cause ovarian problems.

High prolactin level can also prevent ovulation.

Immune system Problem

Woman may develop antibodies that attack the man’s sperm, mistaking it for a toxic invader. Certain autoimmune diseases, in which the immune cells attack normal cells in her own body, may also contribute to the ovarian problems

Luteal Phase Defect [LPD] in LPD, corpusluteum, the mound of yellow tissue produced from the egg follicle – may fail to produce enough progesterone to thicken the uterine lining. Then the fertilized egg may be unable to implant.

Fibroids :-

Fibroids or benign growths, may form in the uterus near the fallopian tubes or cervix. As a result, the sperm or fertilized egg cannot reach the uterus or implant there.

Other Uterine Problems :-

Abnormal reproductive organs or endometritis [an abnormal swelling of the uterine lining] may take it difficult for the fertilized egg to implant.

Surgical Complications

Scar tissue left after abdominal surgery can cause problems in the movements of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus, resulting in infertility.

Frequent abortions :-

Frequent abortions may also produce infertility by weakening the cervix or by leaving the scar tissue that obstructs the uterus.

Frequent abortions may also produce infertility by weakening the cervix or by leaving the scar tissue that obstructs the uterus.

Uterinemuscleproblems :-

During ovulation , uterine contraction usually push the sperm up to the fallopian tube, weak , infrequent or abnormal contraction causes problem.

Poor quality cervical mucous :-

some times a cervical mucous fails to thin around the time of ovulation & consequently it prevents the sperm from travelling through it.

Illness :-

Long illness may also cause infertility. High blood sugar level or high blood pressure can also be a cause. Some other contributors to infertility includes excessive exercise, obesity, stress or anorexia.

Q. Why does a man became infertile ?

The most common cause for male infertility is a problem with sperm production. Sperm with poor quality cannot move rapidly enough or in the right direction. Some conditions that may contribute to sperm problems include –

Under developed testes

Swollen – veins in the scrotum Undescended tests Problems in ejaculation Infection Exposure to metals Certain medications Injury to testicles Chronic prostate infections Deficiency of testosterone.

Auto immunity – in which antibodies of the man’s immune system attack sperm cells, mistaking them for toxic invaders. The antibodies attach themselves to the sperm and may cause them to stick together, or may stop them from penetrating the cervical mucous or the egg.

Retrograde Ejaculation – In this condition the muscles of the urethra do not force the sperm out. Instead , the sperm travel backward into blad

Q. How is infertility diagnosed ?

A complete medical history and a physical exam are the first step in diagnosing with fertility problem. Both partners need to be evaluated. The couple may also need blood tests, semen analysis and ultrasound exams or exploratory surgery for the woman.

Q. How is infertility in a woman treated?

Once the cause for infertility is determined, treatment can be planned. Some times, a simple instruction or few medication will solve the problem. Instructions like when having the sex will produce a pregnancy is given. In many cases medications are indicated. In some cases surgery is required.

Q. How is infertility in a man treated ?

Problems in the male reproductive organs can often be resolved with medicine and if required with surgery.

Q. what increases a man’s risks of infertility ?

Sperm quality and quantity can be affected by overall health and life style. Some things that may reduce sperm number and / or quality includes alcohol, drugs, stress, environmental toxins, smoking, health problems, certain medicines, radio or chemotherapy and age.

Q. What things increases a woman’s risk of infertility ?

Things that affect woman’s fertility includes age, stress, poor diet, obesity, underweight, smoking, STD, hormonal problems and health problems.

Q. Can a vasectomized man be a father again ? If yes what is the procedure?

For person who wants to be a father again after vasectomy operation is vasectomy reversal operation should be the first choice. In skilled hands, reversals are successful 70-80%. The other procedure is extraction of sperm from testes or from epidydymis. These sperms are used to inject a ovum through a procedure called ICSI [Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection].

Q. How many couples are affected by infertility ?

One in six couples are affected by some degree of infertility.

Q. If a couple has trouble conceiving, when they should visit a fertility specialist ?

Couple who have been having intercourse during ovulation for one year without protection and wants to have baby soon can consult a doctor.

Q. Is Infertility hereditary ?

Most infertility problems are not hereditary. If yourgrand mother, mother or sister conceives late or had difficult in conceiving, it is not a rule that you will not conceive.

Q. Do painful periods cause infertility ?

Painful periods do not affect fertility, infact it is a signal of ovulatory cycles. But if one have consistant pain doctor consultation is advised.

Q. What is tubal reversal ?

It is a procedure that restores blocked or tied fallopian tubes to restore fertility in a woman. The procedure is called tubal reversal because it is performed to reserve the effects of a tubal ligation, a procedure which involves blocking the fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancy.

Q. Do all infertility treatment is high-tech procedures ?

No, many couples are successful in their attempts to conceive using simple and “low-tech” procedure. ~10-20% couples seeking infertility treatment will undergo ART procedure. All ART procedures are established medical treatment .

Q. How successful are infertility treatments ?

Improvements in medication, surgery and ART make pregnancy possible for a majority of the couples pursuing treatments. Success rates have drastically improved for couples taking treatment under ART.

Q. How does natural conception occur ?

Conception occurs when the male’s sperm meet the woman’s egg and successfully penetrates it. This typically takes place in one of the woman’s fallopian tube and the fertilized egg then travels to the uterus and implants in the uterine lining. For pregnancy to take place, fertilization of the egg must be followed by a successful impanation. Only one egg is released for fertilization in each menstrual cycle. If this egg is not fertilized, conception will not be possible again until the next cycle.

Q. How does age affect woman’s fertility ?

For woman, The quality of eggs in the ovaries decline with age.

The ability of an egg to become fertilized may also be decreasing over time, lowering the odds of conception There are fewer eggs with time.Overtime, changes in hormones can cause difficulties with ovulation. Miscarriage rates increase with age.