Infertility

Numerous people worldwide suffer from infertility or the inability to have a baby, which is an extremely common condition, and it affects males and females equally.

Infertility

Infertility is when pregnancy doesn’t occur after trying for at least one year, and it can happen to anybody and due to different reasons.

We can divide infertility into the following types:

• Primary infertility: when pregnancy never occurs.
• Secondary infertility: when pregnancy doesn’t happen after having at least one successful pregnancy.
• Unexplained infertility: it’s infertility with an unknown reason.

Risk factors of infertility

• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
• Smoking.
• Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
• Obesity or being extremely underweight.
• Excessive alcohol consumption.
• Being exposed to environmental toxins, such as pesticides and chemical substances.
• Over-exercising.
• Using illegal drugs.
• Chemical or radiation therapy.
• Problems in the hormone-producing parts in the brain.
• Some cancers.

Causes of infertility in males

• Scrotal varicocele.
• Damage in the testicles due to high temperature, tight clothes, putting electronic devices like laptops near them, or certain traumas or injuries.
• Low testosterone.
• Problems in the semen or sperm.
• Some conditions, such as cystic fibrosis.
• Misuse of anabolic substances, such as steroids.
• Undescended testicles.
• Sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction and others.
• Congenital problems in the testicles.

Causes of infertility in females

• Abnormalities in the structure of the reproductive system.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency or poor egg quality.
• Some women’s conditions, such as endometriosis, PCOS, pelvic inflammatory disease, and uterine fibroids or polyps.
• Some other conditions, such as sickle cell anemia, lupus, celiac disease, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, disorders in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, and some genetic conditions.
• Sexual dysfunction.
• Having irregular periods for a long time.

Diagnosis of infertility

• Diagnosis in women: physical examination, blood tests, an ovulation test, imaging tests, and other certain tests.
• Diagnosis in men: semen and sperm tests, imaging tests, blood tests, and other certain tests.

Treatment of infertility

• Changing the lifestyle.
• Specific medications for both women and men.
• Certain surgeries in some cases.
• Using fertilization procedures, such as IVF, intrauterine insemination, and others.
• You can reduce the risk of infertility by following a healthy lifestyle, avoiding smoking, and staying away from things that increase the risk of infertility.