Symptoms from 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.
One or both partners have varying emotional reactions when they are diagnosed as infertile. Severe reactions occur more frequently among childless couples.
Infertility, in couples that have never had a child, is referred to as primary infertility.
On the other hand, secondary infertility describes the condition wherein couples who have successfully become pregnant once are having difficulties in getting pregnant again.
The Man Factor
A number of factors, both physical and emotional, can 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.
Intake of prescription drugs like nitrofurantoin, cimetidine and spironolactone and even frequent marijuana use can negatively affect sperm count.
The Female Factor
Pelvic infection, scarring from STDs, endometriosis, ovulation dysfunction, fallopian tube abnormality, tumors, hormonal imbalances, and even poor nutrition are some of these “female factors.” These are the primary causes of 40 to 50 per cent of infertility cases.
Factors from both male and female, including other unknown causes, make up 10 to 30% of infertility cases.
It is estimated that just 10 to 20% of couples fail to conceive after a year. It is essential for couples to keep trying to conceive for a year at the very least.
Age Influenced 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. A woman is most fertile when she’s in her 20s. Pregnancy for women more than 35 years old is 10% less, even lower for those over 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 sex partners (increases risk for STD)
* STDs
* History of pelvic inflammatory disease
* Orchitis or epididymitis history in males
* Males who’ve had mumps
* Varicocele in males
* A health history including DES exposure (males and females)
* Eating disorders in females
* Anovulatory and irregular menstrual cycles
* Endometriosis
* Problems with the uterus or the cervix
* Long-term disease like diabetes
Other Useful Information
Read this to find out more on how to increase your chances of pregnancy .
Click here for information on insurance coverage for infertility .
