Infertility Factors – Age, Sex & Other
Infertility Symptoms – Definitions
When a couple cannot have a baby after 12 months of regular and unprotected intercourse, they can be classified infertile. Infertility is the incapacity to procreate.
Couples have different reactions to the news of being 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.
Maleness
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.
Intake of prescription drugs like nitrofurantoin, cimetidine and spironolactone and even frequent marijuana use can negatively affect sperm count.
Being Female
Ovarian cysts, tumors, pelvic infection, hormonal imbalances, ovarian dysfunction, enometriosis, fallopian tube abnormalities, scarring from STD are some examples of “female factors.” These make up between 40 and 50 % of infertility problems among couples.
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 estimated that just 10 to 20% of couples fail to conceive after a year. It is crucial that couples continue with their attempts at conception for 12 months, at the least.
Age-Related Factors
Healthy couples who are under 30 years old and have sex regularly have a 25 to 30% chance monthly of getting pregnant. Women in their 20s are at the peak of their fertility. Pregnancy for women more than 35 years old is 10% less, even lower for those over 40.
More Non Age Related Causes
It is not just age or its related factors that causes infertility. Infertility may also be increased due to the following:
* Having had sex with more than one partner
* Sexually transmitted infections
* PID history (pelvic inflammatory disease)
* History of epididymitis or orchitis in men
* Mumps among men
* Varicocele in males
* A health history including DES exposure (males and females)
* Eating problems among females
* Anovulatory and irregular menstrual cycles
* Endometriosis
* Uterine problems or a blockage in the cervix
* Long-term disease like diabetes
Other Useful Information
Click here for info about issues related to ovarian cyst pain.
Click here for info about issues concerning a bleeding ovarian cyst.
Click here for info about how to prevent ovarian cysts.
