Symptoms of Infertility – Definitions
When a couple is unsuccessful at having a baby after 12 months of unprotected, regular intercourse, they are considered infertile. Infertility is the inability to have a baby.
Couples have different reactions to the news of being infertile. The news can be particularly hard on couples that are without children.
Infertility, in couples that have never had a child, is referred to as primary infertility.
On another note, couples who classify under secondary infertility are those who have had a baby before but are now having trouble getting pregnant once more.
The Male Factor
Various physical and emotional factors trigger infertility.
Infertility cases in men, like low sperm count, retrograde ejaculation, scarring from sexually transmitted diseases, hormone deficiency, and impotence, make up approximately 30-40% of 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 the primary causes of 40 to 50 per cent of infertility cases.
Risk factors contributed by both the male and the female, in addition to other unknown causes, comprise 10 to 30% of infertility cases.
It is projected that only 10 to 20% of couples won’t be able to get pregnant after one year. It is very important for couples to try having a baby for at least 12 months.
Age-Related Factors
Healthy couples who have intercourse regularly and are below 30 years old have only a 25 to 30% chance a month of becoming pregnant. The peak of a woman’s fertility is in her 20s. The success rate for women aged 35 and over is less than 10%, and this even much lower for those older than 40.
More Non Age Related Causes
Factors related to age are not the sole reasons for infertility. Infertility may also be worsened by the following:
* Multiple sexual partners (higher possibility of getting STDs)
* STDs
* Pelvic inflammatory disease history
* Men with epididymitis or orchitis history
* Mumps in males
* Varicocele in males
* Health history citing DES exposure (both sexes)
* Eating and food disorders among females
* Anovulation and irregular menstruation
* Endometriosis
* A blockage in the cervix or uterine defects
* Long-term disease like diabetes
Other Useful Information
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