Infertility is a condition where the couple cannot bear children naturally after years of conceiving. This is a problem that has existed since ancient times. That said, in modern days, it is rather easy to determine the causes of infertility in both men and women. So, what are these causes?
This blog discusses the common causes of infertility in men and women. Along with this, we also discuss some ways to prevent this issue. So, with this in mind, let's get started.
As mentioned, infertility is defined as a condition where a couple cannot bear children naturally after years of trying to conceive a child. But before we talk about infertility, we first need to know what leads to a successful pregnancy. The steps that lead to a successful pregnancy are as follows:
If there is a problem in any of these steps, the resulting process is called infertility.
Unlike what many of us think, there are many types of infertility. These types are as follows:
This is a form of infertility where the female partner has not been pregnant and cannot conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse. If the age of women is above 35, then this duration extends to six months of unprotected sex.
This is the type of infertility where you already have at least one child. However, you cannot become pregnant in the following successive attempts.
As the name states, unexplained infertility is a type of infertility where all the test results are normal, but the couple cannot get pregnant.
These are the three main types of infertility.
As you may already guess, the leading cause of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. However, besides this, there are several other symptoms. These symptoms are as follows:
Besides the ones mentioned here, there can be several other causes. Therefore, if you suspect that you are infertile, you should consult with an expert like Hardik IVF and the Fertility Center.
After having a general gist of what infertility looks like in both men and women, let's talk about the causes of infertility. Now, you should always note that the specific causes of infertility can vary depending on your circumstances. However, there are a few common causes of infertility. These common causes of infertility are as follows:
The specific causes of infertility vary depending on the individual circumstances. That said, we can provide you with some common causes of infertility for men. Some of these common causes of infertility for men are as follows:
As the title suggests, these are infertility conditions that affect the production of sperm and their quality; some of these conditions include the following:
These are just some of the common causes that affect the quality and quantity of sperm. All of these conditions affect the quality and quantity of sperm.
This is a category of male infertility in which the sperm is of high quality and quantity. However, in these conditions, the sperms do not reach the female reproductive tract. There are many causes for these categories. Some of these causes include the following:
Besides the ones mentioned here, several other causes can result in the sperm not reaching the female reproductive tract. For further details, you should contact your reproductive expert.
These are the causes that are not directly related to health. They are external factors that indirectly result in male infertility. Some of the environmental factors that result in male infertility are as follows:
Cancer treatments, chemotherapy, and radiation can also affect sperm production.
These are some of the common causes of male infertility.
Now that we covered some of the common causes of male infertility let's talk about the common causes of female infertility. The common causes are as follows:
These conditions affect the release of eggs from the ovaries. The conditions that affect this are as follows:
This category of conditions that causes infertility in women includes the following:
This issue regarding female infertility is caused by swelling of fallopian tubes, known as salpingitis. This swelling can occur because of pelvic inflammatory diseases.
Endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus grows outside its designated place. This can affect how well the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes work.
Primary ovarian insufficiency is when the ovaries stop working as they are required to. Additionally, this condition also occurs during menstrual periods before 40. That said, the specific cause of this condition can often be unknown. That said, some factors causing this condition include the following:
Pelvic Adhesions are essentially scar tissues that bind the organs. These scar tissues can cause pelvic infection, appendicitis, or endometriosis, resulting in female infertility.
This cause of female infertility is similar to that of its male counterpart. Specific cancers, especially those associated with reproductive organs, reduce female fertility. Furthermore, both cancer and treatment can result in female infertility.
Now that you know some common causes of infertility for both men and women, some of you may wonder about the risk factors for men and women. The risk factors for both men and women are essentially the same. Some common risk factors regarding infertility for men and women are as follows:
Age is one of the key factors affecting the cause of infertility. With the growth of age, fertility decreases. The higher the age of the couples, the lower the chance of fertilization.
Smoking and the use of tobacco can significantly reduce the fertility rate in both men and women. Furthermore, smoking and tobacco use can also render fertility treatments less effective. When a pregnant mother smokes, it can also negatively impact the baby as well. Additionally, smoking can also lead to erectile dysfunction and low sperm count in males.
There is no safe level of alcohol use for women during the fertilization and pregnancy period. That said, consumption of excess alcohol can also lower sperm count and affect how well sperm move.
Being overweight or obese can directly result in infertility. This is often linked with lower-quality semen and poor egg quality.
Just like how being overweight (obesity) can result in lower fertility, we can say the same for being underweight as well. This includes all forms of eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia.
After knowing the causes of infertility in men and women, along with risk factors, some of you may start to get worried. The good news here is that there are preventive measures against infertility. Some of these preventative measures are as follows:
The primary preventive measure against infertility as a couple is to have sex often soon after the bleeding stops during menstruation. It is ideal to have sex every day, starting from five to seven days before the release of eggs. We recommend doing this until two days after ovulation.
There are several preventive measures for infertility in men. Some of the critical preventive measures are as follows:
As a woman, many factors can affect infertility. Some of these preventive measures are as follows:
These are just some measures to prevent infertility in men and women. If you want detailed information on how to prevent infertility, visit us at Hardik IVF and Fertility Center.
Fertility has been a consistent problem for us since ancient times. However, unlike back in the day, we now know a lot about the causes of infertility in men and women. While there are still aspects to explore, we now know that factors like hormonal imbalance, lifestyle choices, obstructions, and weight cause infertility.
In this blog, we discussed some of the common causes of infertility. Along with this, we also discussed the overall aspect of infertility in brief. We hope you found this helpful. If you want further insights into the various aspects of fertility, check out some of our other blogs. And as always, thank you for reading till the end. Moreover, If you are struggling with infertility? Get a free consultation from the best IVF center in Nepal and take the first step towards parenthood today.
Some of the most important causes of infertility include the following:
The five causes of infertility in females are as follows:
The male causes of infertility are as follows: