Causes of Infertility
Introduction of
fertility and infertility
Symptoms of Infertility
Causes of Infertility
Therapy for infertility
Problems with Ovulation: Remedy with Clomiphene
Problems with Ovulation
Synthetic Insemination With Sperm Supplied By Male Accomplice
Pinpointing the
exact cause of infertility is difficult. About a third of fertility problems
occur solely in women, one third in men and the remaining third are mutual.
Current estimates suggest about six percent of men between the ages of
fifteen and fifty are infertile. Given below are some of the common causes
of infertility.
|
Problem
Area |
Percentage of Cases |
|
Sperm |
30 to 40 |
|
Ovulation |
15 to 20 |
|
Fallopian
tubes |
25 to 40 |
|
Cervix |
5 |
|
Unidentified factors |
5 to 15 |
Men
The most common
cause is a low sperm count. Research has shown that sperm count worldwide
has dropped by 50 percent since the 1940s. The reason is probably
environmental (food, water and air) pollution involving chemicals.
Another common
problem is poor sperm quality, and some men's ejaculate contains antibodies
to their own sperm. Alternatively, there may be no sperm at all, either
because the man is producing none or because the delicate tubes which carry
them are blocked. Sometimes sperm cannot penetrate the egg when they reach
it; and in a very small number of cases there may be hormonal problems.
Women
Common reasons
for female infertility include failure to ovulate (including polycystic
ovary syndrome), blocked fallopian tubes (due to endometriosis, for
example), and the production of antibodies to a partner's sperm.
Psychological issues, such as stress or fear of parenthood, may contribute
to infertility as well.
Specific
Factors
It can be hard
to pinpoint which of the many possible factors is the cause of a couple's
infertility.
For both men and
women there can be several factors, such as
|
|
Physical
changes in the pelvis due to inflammation and infection |
|
|
Chlamydia
(results in an infectious disease called nongonococcal genital
infection, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the US)
|
|
|
Excessive
physical activity |
|
|
Malnutrition |
|
|
Extreme
weight gain or loss |
|
|
Severe
mental or physical stress |
|
|
Exposure
to toxic substances including heavy metals, drugs, radiation and heavy
smoking. |
|
