Infertility is defined as the inability to get or stay pregnant after a full year of trying. Women 35 years or older are considered infertile after only six months of trying to get pregnant. Around 10% of women in the United States between the ages of 15 and 44 have trouble getting pregnant, according to the CDC. Contrary to popular belief, infertility is not always the woman's problem, either. Only a third of infertility causes are caused by a problem with the woman, while an equal amount is due to male infertility. The rest of infertility causes are caused by a mixture of female and male problems or unknown issues.
While only a third of infertility cases may involve the woman, the same number of cases has to do with the man and the remaining third are a mixture of issues that can either affect the man or woman.
While being pregnant is often joyous, the truth is that many complications may come about that can affect mother and baby. It starts with the mother being able to ovulate and release a healthy egg upon conception. Once that egg travels through the Fallopian tube and meets with healthy sperm, the egg is fertilized and becomes an embryo that will rest inside the uterus, as it develops into a baby. Problems with the mother or child may occur as early as this stage.
Of the males that are diagnosed with infertility, 10% will be found to suffer from a condition known as azoospermia. Sufferers of this condition show no or very low sperm in their semen. The cause of azoospermia is normally genetic. Treatment can range from medications to surgery.
Female infertility has a wider range of causes, although most are related to ovulation. Ovulation is what causes an egg to be present for fertilization in the first place, so this may be one of the first things a doctor will check for. Many ovulation issues are created by polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is a hormone imbalance that hampers with ovulation. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is the most common cause of primary infertility in women. Another issue that may interfere with ovulation is primary ovarian insufficiency, which happens when the ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40.
Other causes of female infertility include physical issues with the uterus and uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous clumps in the tissue of the uterus. Blocked Fallopian tubes may also be to blame, a condition which can come from endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or surgery for a prior ectopic pregnancy.
This is one of the reasons that abstinence is encouraged for both men and women so that chances of experiencing fertility issues are not as strong. Sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia can cause PID and possibly prevent a woman's Fallopian tubes from functioning properly. A yearly Pap smear performed by a gynecologist or other health care provider may detect this as well as other abnormalities of the uterus.
While only a third of infertility cases may involve the woman, the same number of cases has to do with the man and the remaining third are a mixture of issues that can either affect the man or woman.
While being pregnant is often joyous, the truth is that many complications may come about that can affect mother and baby. It starts with the mother being able to ovulate and release a healthy egg upon conception. Once that egg travels through the Fallopian tube and meets with healthy sperm, the egg is fertilized and becomes an embryo that will rest inside the uterus, as it develops into a baby. Problems with the mother or child may occur as early as this stage.
Of the males that are diagnosed with infertility, 10% will be found to suffer from a condition known as azoospermia. Sufferers of this condition show no or very low sperm in their semen. The cause of azoospermia is normally genetic. Treatment can range from medications to surgery.
Female infertility has a wider range of causes, although most are related to ovulation. Ovulation is what causes an egg to be present for fertilization in the first place, so this may be one of the first things a doctor will check for. Many ovulation issues are created by polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is a hormone imbalance that hampers with ovulation. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is the most common cause of primary infertility in women. Another issue that may interfere with ovulation is primary ovarian insufficiency, which happens when the ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40.
Other causes of female infertility include physical issues with the uterus and uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous clumps in the tissue of the uterus. Blocked Fallopian tubes may also be to blame, a condition which can come from endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or surgery for a prior ectopic pregnancy.
This is one of the reasons that abstinence is encouraged for both men and women so that chances of experiencing fertility issues are not as strong. Sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia can cause PID and possibly prevent a woman's Fallopian tubes from functioning properly. A yearly Pap smear performed by a gynecologist or other health care provider may detect this as well as other abnormalities of the uterus.
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