Infertility

Infertility is the inability to naturally conceive a child or to carry a pregnancy to full term. There are many reasons why a couple may not be able to conceive, or may not be able to conceive without medical assistance.

Female Infertility

Factors relating to female infertility are:

• General factors
  • Diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, adrenal disease
  • Significant liver, kidney disease
• Hypothalamic-pituitary factors:
  • Kallmann syndrome
  • Hypothalamic dysfunction
  • Hyperprolactinemia
  • Hypopituitarism
• Ovarian factors
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Anovulation
  • Diminished ovarian reserve
  • Luteal dysfunction
  • Premature menopause
  • Gonadal dysgenesis (Turner syndrome)
  • Ovarian neoplasm
• Tubal/peritoneal factors
  • Endometriosis
  • Pelvic adhesions
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID, usually due to chlamydia)
  • Tubal occlusion
  • Tubal dysfunction
• Uterine factors
  • Uterine malformations
  • Uterine fibroids (leiomyoma)
  • Asherman's Syndrome
• Cervical factors
  • Cervical stenosis
  • Antisperm antibodies
  • Insufficient cervical mucus (for the travel and survival of sperm)
• Vaginal factors
  • Vaginismus
  • Vaginal obstruction
• Genetic factors
  • Various intersexed conditions, such as androgen insensitivity syndrome

 

Male infertility

Factors relating to male infertility include:

• Pretesticular causes
  • Endocrine problems, i.e. diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders
  • Hypothalamic disorders, i.e. Kallmann syndrome
  • Hyperprolactinemia
  • Hypopituitarism
  • Hypogonadism due to various causes
  • Drugs, alcohol
• Testicular factors
  • Genetic defects on the Y chromosome
  • Y chromosome microdeletions
  • Abnormal set of chromosomes
  • Klinefelter syndrome
  • Neoplasm, e.g. seminoma
  • Idiopathic failure
  • Cryptorchidism
  • Varicocele
  • Trauma
  • Hydrocele
  • Mumps
  • Testicular dysgenesis syndrome
• Posttesticular causes
  • Vas deferens obstruction
  • Infection, e.g. prostatitis
  • Retrograde ejaculation
  • Hypospadias
  • Impotence
  • Acrosomal defect/egg penetration defect
• Smoking
• According to a study conducted by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, smoking is one the most prominent factors contributing to low sperm count in men.

Some causes of male infertility can be determined by analysis of the ejaculate, which contains the sperm. The analysis includes counting the number of sperm and measuring their motility under a microscope:

Producing few sperm, oligospermia, or no sperm, azoospermia.
A sample of sperm that is normal in number but shows poor motility, or asthenozoospermia.

Want to learn more?

"So You Have Actively Trying To Get Pregnant" will go over all the important medical conditions. We show you how they relate to pregnancy and steps to overcome possible problems