Infertility is defined as not being able to conceive despite having regular, unprotected sex for at least a year for most couples. In that case, you should consult a fertility specialist in the North West.
Infertility would be very unfortunate and devastating for a couple who is planning to form their family. Infertility is not just because of unprotected sex but a lot of bases are behind that. The issue is increasing with pace.
If you and your companion are struggling to conceive, then you are not alone. If we look at the estimates, every one in five couples is facing infertility.
Infertility may result from a problem with either you or your companion or a mix of factors that prevent pregnancy.
Fortunately, many safe and convincing treatments greatly improve your odds of getting pregnant.
Questions like “what does it feel like to be infertile?” arises in mind.
So, it is high time to start understanding the common reasons related to the case and consult a doctor or a fertility specialist if you find one in yourself and know what are the main causes of infertility?
Symptoms of Infertility
The main and primary sign of infertility is not getting pregnant. There may be no other apparent symptoms.
Sometimes, females with infertility may have rare or absent menstrual periods. In some cases, males with infertility may have some symptoms of hormonal issues, such as changes in hair growth or sexual function.
Most couples will eventually get pregnant, with or without therapy. Now let’s see what are the most common causes of infertility in both males and females.
Causes of Infertility in Females
The female’s body starts showing the signs of infertility a bit early and hence noticed easily. This has also conquered the misconception that females face this a lot whereas the data tells differently.
Both males and females are equally at risk of infertility, but hormonal disorders can easily show the symptoms in women. Below noted are some of the key reasons for the infertility issue:
1. Growing Age
With the increase in age, the females’ ability to conceive keeps on decreasing. The quality of eggs keeps declining after 35 years of age and hence it becomes a deep concern.
The problem of infertility also comes even if the female hasn’t struck menopause. The issue can be simply avoided by trying to get pregnant at the right age.
2. Irregular and Painful Periods
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is one of the most common reasons for irregular periods and that can lead to infertility.
Weight gain, pain in periods, abnormal hair growth, and skin diseases are some of the signs of infertility.
The usual reasons for irregular periods are stress and anxiety, emotional issues, overthinking, and weight loss/gain.
3. Endometriosis
It occurs when endometrial tissue develops outside of the uterus and may affect the function of the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes.
4. Issues with Fallopian Tube
Fallopian tube issues in females are similar to tube damage in males. Once the egg is fertilized with the sperm, fallopian tubes are liable for taking it to the uterus.
If these tubes are harmed or face an issue, the conceiving is risked. STIs can harm the fallopian tubes and the issue keeps on growing if not treated for a long time.
Endometriosis also induces deformities in these tubes and the damages are hardly reversible.
5. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency or Early Menopause
When the ovaries stop functioning and menstruation in females ends before the age of 40.
Although the reason is often unknown, specific factors are associated with early menopause, including immune system disorders, certain genetic disorders such as Turner syndrome or carriers of Fragile X syndrome, and radiation or chemotherapy treatment.
6. Ovulation Disorders
It affects the discharge of eggs from the ovaries. These have hormonal diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
Hyperprolactinemia, a state in which you hold too much prolactin — the hormone that produces breast milk production — also may inhibit ovulation.
Either too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism) can impact the menstrual cycle or induce infertility. Other underlying reasons may have too much exercise, eating disorders, or tumors.
7. Cancer and its Therapies and Treatments
Particular cancers — especially reproductive cancers — often damage female fertility. Both radiation and chemotherapy may impact fertility.
Now let’s see what is male infertility and what are its causes.
Causes of Infertility in Males
Males can also suffer from the issue of infertility. If we observe the statistics, 40% of the cases of infertility are because of problems with males or females.
In the rest cases, both females and males are the contributing forces to the issue. The signs do not show up early in males and hence become quite difficult to diagnose.
Now let’s see what causes infertility in men ? Below noted are some of the reasons for infertility in males:
1. Problem with Tubes
The tubal problem happens when the tubes having sperm get blocked and it does not get the way to ejaculate.
The low sperm count and infertility issue are quite primary with the tubal issues.
Specific tubules in the body like the epididymis, urethra and ejaculatory ducts can cause this blockage. Prior surgeries or therapy can also lead to kinks in tubes.
2. Infections
Infections are risky for any part of the body if not treated for a prolonged time. So, the same can induce harm to sperm and tubes.
Various sexually transmitted disorders like Gonorrhoea and HIV can cause complications in testicles, epididymis, sperm production, and movement.
Such infections or disorders must be treated with the greatest urgency and appropriate consultation can be really helpful.
3. Enlarged Varicoceles Veins
Varicoceles are the enlarged veins in the scrotum and inhibit the normal reproductive ability in a male. Thanks to the specialists, it can be healed with the right direction and medicines.
Varicoceles boost the temperature of the scrotum and that affects natural sperm formation. The body requires an optimal temperature to maintain sufficient sperm count or quality.
4. Retrograde Ejaculation
This issue is not with sperm formation, but ejaculation. The semen begins moving inside the bladder instead of coming out of the penis.
This disturbance in the normal process can be because of spinal cord injury, diabetes, or previous surgeries.
The solution, to this issue, is to remove the healthy sperm of a person and take it out in synthetic insemination.
5. Problems with the delivery of Sperms
Due to sexual problems, such as early ejaculation; specific genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis; structural problems, such as a blockage in the testicle; or a damage or injury to the reproductive organs.
6. Overexposure to certain environmental factors
Environmental elements such as pesticides and other different chemicals, and radiation.
Cigarette smoking, alcohol, marijuana, anabolic steroids, and taking medicines to treat bacterial infections, high blood pressure, and depression also can affect fertility.
Regular exposure to heat, such as in saunas or hot tubs, can boost body temperature and may affect sperm production.
7. Abnormal Sperm Production or Function
Abnormal Sperm Production is due to undescended testicles, genetic flaws, health issues such as diabetes, or diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, mumps, or HIV.
Enlarged veins in the testes (varicocele) also can impact the quality grade of the sperm.
When to visit a Fertility Specialist?
You probably don’t need to visit your doctor or fertility specialist about infertility unless you have been trying regularly to conceive for at least one year.
Females should talk with a fertility specialist before, however, if they:
- Are at the age of 35 or older and have been trying to conceive for six months or longer
- Are over the age of 40
- Have rare or absent menses
- Have very painful periods
- Have known fertility issues
- Have been diagnosed with endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disorder
- Have had multiple miscarriages in the past
- Have undergone treatment and therapy for cancer
Males should talk to a fertility specialist if they have:
- A low sperm count or any other issues with sperm
- A past record of testicular, prostate, or sexual issues
- Undergone treatment and therapy for cancer
- Small testicles or bumps in the scrotum
- Others in your lineage with infertility issues
Winding Up!!!
There can be a lot of other different reasons for infertility, yet, we have covered some of the basic and primary ones above.
It is not sure that infertility can restrict you from parenthood these days.
You can consult a doctor or IVF center to fulfill your dreams of having your own child. The latest result in infertility treatment or therapy is available and can solve it for both males and females.
If you are living in North West Manchester then you can consult our expert team of North West Gynecology. Our expert fertility specialists will surely help you in each and every possible way.
We assure you that we will answer all your queries and give you our best possible treatment and therapy.
We will give you all the information and answers to your questions like what are some examples of infertility symptoms, what are some facts about male infertility, what is it like to find that you are infertile. etc.
And if you are one of those couples who is going through the problem of infertility and when to get answers of all your questions then must consult or visit our expert team of fertility specialists in the North west.