What is infertility? Infertility is a condition or disease affecting the reproductive system that prevents successful
pregnancy. It is typically diagnosed after a couple has had 6 to 12 months of unprotected, well-timed (around the time of ovulation) intercourse without a pregnancy occurring or when a woman has been unable to carry a pregnancy that results in a live birth.
Problems in fertility can occur at any point in the process of conception – in the development or release of the egg or sperm, in fertilization or transport of the fertilized egg from the fallopian tube to the uterus, in implantation of the embryo in the uterine lining (the endometrium), even in the timing of intercourse or physical conditions after conception. In the female, the reproductive system consists of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and vulva (the external structures). The male genital organs include the testicles, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and penis.
Hormones controlling reproduction and
metabolism (produced by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid glands as well as the ovaries and testes) also play an important role.
An estimated 10% to 20% of American couples have impaired fertility. The source of the problem may be in the man (about 40% of cases), the woman (about 40% of cases), or in both partners or unidentified (approximately 20% of cases). Age can play an important role ― especially in women, but also in men. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have; they do not make any new ones. Damaged
DNA, it is thought, may be related to the age of the eggs. In addition, hormonal imbalances may develop over time.
Although the precise cause of infertility is often not known, it typically results from several problems.
Endometriosis and the effects of
sexually transmitted diseases are common factors in infertility. The presence of other diseases or infection in either partner can be a source of the problem. Nutritional, health, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors also have an effect. Some of the most common defects reported are sperm disorders, tubal defects, ovulation problems, and cervical mucus abnormalities; unidentified problems are the cause approximately 10% of the time.
Infertility testing can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Often, both partners are required to undergo extensive physical examinations, blood tests, evaluation of lifestyles, and/or ultrasound testing to determine the source of the problem.
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