Factors That Lead To Infertility

Contrary to what many people think, it is not easy to plan to start a family. Some may have difficulty conceiving and find out only after some time. If you belong to the latter, you may need to seek professional or medical help. It is definitely frustrating to couples who are unable to have a baby. Not only does it create stress and frustration to men and women alike, it is also a topic that is tough to broach to your circle of friends. More often than not, there are many couples that will end up in this situation. So what can one do when faced with infertility? A good understanding of the factors that cause infertility and discovering the nature of the root of the problem is the first step to alleviating your infertility blues. And the sooner you take action to diagnose the cause of your infertility, the higher the chances that it can be treated.

Here are some factors that lead to infertility.

1. Ovulation and egg quality

Irregular ovulation or poor egg quality can lead to an obstruction of pregnancy. An irregular ovulation cycle may lead to the egg being immobile and trapped, instead of preparing it to be fertilized. Poor egg quality can be caused by everyday stress. There is another condition called decreased egg production. As the name implies, there is a lower output of eggs, which can lead to a decreased chance of conception during intercourse. Other inherent factors that can lead to infertility are diabetes or high blood pressure.

2. Medications

A little known fact is that the everyday medication that you may be taking can change the normal hormonal production and cause infertility. While taking antibiotics, anti-depressants, painkillers and hormone pills can treat other conditions, they can also interfere with your reproduction hormones and lead to an impairment in infertility. As a tip, always consult your doctor prior to taking these medications and let it be made known that you are trying to conceive and check if these medications can decrease your fertility. When you are trying to conceive, any alteration in the amount of estrogen produced in the body can lead to a decreased possibility of pregnancy.

3. Infections

Infections can lead to infertility in men, notably those of the sexually transmitted variants. These infections can affect certain ducts in the male genitals, leading to reduced sperm motility. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as syphilis, gonorrhoea are examples. Other non-STD examples are tuberculosis or an after-effect of mumps. Whenever you discover an infection – get it treated immediately!

4. Auto Immunity In Females

The female body has a defensive mechanism that causes “anti-sperm” antibodies to be produced and these attack sperms when mistaken for toxic elements. While not occurring in every female, this is true for some cases. These antibodies prevent sperm to penetrate the egg, preventing fertilization and thus pregnancy. Do check with your doctor regularly whether you fall into this category.