Definition of infertility

Infertility means that one cannot conceive even after having regular sex for at least 12 months without the use of contraception. Sometimes, a woman may be able to conceive numerous times but fails to carry her pregnancies to full term and this is also be referred to as infertility on her side. There may be numerous causes for infertility. Sometimes though, the reason for infertility is an individual is inconclusive and no reasons are found.

Studies indicate that slightly over half of all cases of infertility are a result of female conditions, while the rest are caused by either sperm disorders or unidentified factors.

Generally, the following holds true:

  • About 40% to 50% of cases of infertility are due to a problem in the woman.
  • About 20% of cases of infertility are due to a problem in the man.
  • About 30% to 40% of cases of infertility are due to problems in both the man and the woman.

Causes of infertility in women

There are various reasons why a woman cannot conceive and is deemed infertile. Here are some of them:

Ovulation disorders

Ovulation issues are the most common cause of infertility in women. Ovulation is the monthly release of an egg. In some cases the egg is never released. In others, the woman does not release her egg in time. Ovulation disorders may also be traced back to:

Premature ovarian failure – the woman’s ovaries stop working before she is 40.

PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) – a problem caused by woman’s hormones being out of balance.

Hyperprolactinemia – if prolactin levels are high and the woman is not pregnant or breastfeeding, it may affect ovulation and fertility.

Poor egg quality – eggs that are damaged or develop genetic abnormalities cannot sustain a pregnancy. The older a woman is the higher the risk.

Issues with the uterus or fallopian tubes

The egg travels from the ovary to the uterus (womb) where the fertilized egg grows. If there is something wrong in the uterus or the fallopian tubes the woman may not be able to conceive naturally.

These problems may be caused by:

Surgery – pelvic surgery may scar or damage to the fallopian tubes. Cervical surgery can sometimes cause a shortening of the cervix.

Submucosal fibroids – benign or non-cancerous tumors found in the muscular wall of the uterus may interfere with implantation. They can also block the fallopian tube, preventing sperm from fertilizing the egg.

Endometriosis – cells that are normally found within the lining of the uterus start growing elsewhere in the body.

Previous sterilization treatment – if a woman chose to have her fallopian tubes blocked, it is possible to reverse this process, but the chances of conception are deemed low.

Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy increases the risk of infertility, especially if it was aimed near the woman’s reproductive organs

Illegal drugs

Marijuana or cocaine may cause fertility problems.

Causes of Infertility in men

Semen problems

Semen, the milky fluid that a man’s penis releases during orgasm, consists of fluid and sperm. During orgasm a man ejaculates (releases semen through the penis). The seminal fluid helps transport the sperm during ejaculation.

Abnormal semen is responsible for about 75% of all cases of male infertility where the following semen problems are possible:

Low sperm count – Sperm concentration should be 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen. If the count is under 10 million there is a low sperm concentration (subfertility).

No sperm – when there is no sperm in the semen.

Low sperm mobility (motility) – the sperm cannot “swim” as well as it should.

Abnormal sperm – the sperm has an unusual shape, making it more difficult to move and fertilize an egg.

The following may also cause semen to be abnormal:

“Hot” or over-heated testicles – frequent saunas, hot tubs, very hot baths, or working in extremely hot environments can raise the temperature of the testicles. Tight clothing may have the same effect on some people.

Ejaculation disorders – for some men it may be difficult to ejaculate properly. Men with retrograde ejaculation ejaculate semen into the bladder. If the ejaculatory ducts are blocked or obstructed the man may also have problems ejaculating.

Undescended testicle – one (or both) testicle fails to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum during fetal development. Sperm production is affected because the testicle is not in the scrotum and is at a higher temperature.

Genetic abnormality – a man should have an X and Y chromosome. If he has two or more X chromosomes (Klinefelter’s syndrome) there will be an abnormal development of the testicles, low testosterone, and a low sperm count or no sperm at all.

Radiotherapy – radiation therapy can impair sperm production. The severity usually depends on how near to the testicles the radiation was aimed.

Testicular infection

Testicular cancer

Testicular surgery