Infertility
Facing Challenges on the Path to Parenthood?
If you’ve been trying to conceive for a while without success, it’s understandable to feel frustrated or discouraged. It’s important to remember you’re not alone – many couples face similar challenges.
The inability to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex is considered infertility. While the cause can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint, a fertility clinic can help explore potential reasons. These can range from hormonal imbalances to anatomical issues in both men and women.
The good news is there are many effective treatments available to significantly increase your chances of getting pregnant. Fertility clinics specialise in providing these options, including hormone therapy, medications, and surgery. In some cases, assisted reproductive techniques can be explored to help with fertilisation.
Moving Forward
If you’re facing infertility challenges, a fertility clinic can be a valuable resource. They have the expertise to diagnose the cause and recommend personalised treatment plans to help you achieve your dream of parenthood. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey, and there is hope.
The main symptom of infertility is not getting pregnant. There may be no other obvious symptoms. Sometimes, women with infertility may have irregular or absent menstrual periods. In some cases, men with infertility may have some signs of hormonal problems, such as changes in hair growth or sexual function.
It’s important to talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your fertility. Women, especially, should consider seeking professional guidance earlier if they:
Women should talk with a care provider earlier, however, if they:
- Are 35 or older and haven’t conceived after six months of trying.
- Are over 40 years old.
- Have irregular or absent menstrual periods.
- Experience very painful periods.
- Have a history of fertility issues.
- Have been diagnosed with endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Have had multiple miscarriages.
- Have undergone cancer treatment.
Men should also talk to their doctor if they have:
- Low sperm count or other sperm-related problems.
- A history of testicular, prostate, or sexual problems.
- Undergone cancer treatment.
- Notice small or swollen testicles.
- Have a family history of infertility.
Fertilisation and implantation
Conception involves a remarkable journey. For pregnancy to occur, a sperm needs to meet and fertilise an egg in one of the fallopian tubes. This fertilised egg then travels to the uterus, where it implants itself in the lining. Let’s take a closer look at the male and female reproductive systems to understand where potential roadblocks might arise.
The Male Reproductive System:
The male reproductive system is responsible for producing, storing, and delivering sperm. Testicles produce sperm, which is then mixed with fluids from the seminal vesicles and prostate gland to form semen. During intercourse, the penis ejaculates semen, hopefully containing sperm that can reach and fertilise an egg.
The Female Reproductive System:
The female reproductive system consists of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina. The ovaries produce eggs, the fallopian tubes transport eggs, the uterus nourishes a fertilised egg, the cervix acts as a passageway, and the vagina is the birth canal.
Potential causes of female infertility may include:
- Ovulation disorders, which affect the release of eggs from the ovaries. These include hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Hyperprolactinemia, a condition in which you have too much prolactin — the hormone that stimulates breast milk production — also may interfere with ovulation. Either too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism) can affect the menstrual cycle or cause infertility. Other underlying causes may include too much exercise, eating disorders or tumors.
- Uterine or cervical abnormalities, including abnormalities with the cervix, polyps in the uterus or the shape of the uterus. Noncancerous (benign) tumors in the uterine wall (uterine fibroids) may cause infertility by blocking the fallopian tubes or stopping a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.
- Fallopian tube damage or blockage, often caused by inflammation of the fallopian tube (salpingitis). This can result from pelvic inflammatory disease, which is usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection, endometriosis or adhesions.
- Endometriosis, which occurs when endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus, may affect the function of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.
- Primary ovarian insufficiency (early menopause), when the ovaries stop working and menstruation ends before age 40. Although the cause is often unknown, certain factors are associated with early menopause, including immune system diseases, certain genetic conditions such as Turner syndrome or carriers of Fragile X syndrome, and radiation or chemotherapy treatment.
- Pelvic adhesions, bands of scar tissue that bind organs that can form after pelvic infection, appendicitis, endometriosis or abdominal or pelvic surgery.
- Cancer and its treatment. Certain cancers — particularly reproductive cancers — often impair female fertility. Both radiation and chemotherapy may affect fertility.
