Infertility; Is it a Woman's Problem?

It is a saga that infertility is considered always a "woman's problem." No it’s not the case. About one-third of couples facing infertility are due to problems with the man (male factors), and one-third are due to problems with the woman (female factors). The rest of the cases are due to a combination of both the male and female factors and other unknown causes.

What are the causes of Infertility in Men?

In men, the problems are mainly with the making of sperm or with getting the sperm to reach the egg. These problems with sperm may be present by birth or it could develop later in life due to lifestyle changes, illness or injuries. Few men produce no sperm or produce very few sperm. As per research lifestyle can influence the number and quality of a man's sperm dramatically. Alcohol and drugs can provisionally reduce the sperm quality. Other environmental toxin, that includes pesticides and lead, can also cause infertility in men.

What Causes Infertility in Women?

Problems with ovulation account for most infertility in women. Without ovulation, eggs are not available to be fertilized. Signs of problems with ovulation include irregular menstrual periods or no periods. Simple lifestyle factors – including stress, diet or athletic training – can affect a woman's hormonal balance. Much less often, a hormonal imbalance from a serious medical problem such as a pituitary gland tumor can cause ovulation problems.

Aging is also an important factor in female infertility. The ability of a woman's ovaries to produce eggs declines with age, especially after age 35. About one-third of couples where the woman is over 35 will have problems with fertility. By the time she reaches menopause, when her monthly periods stop for good, a woman can no longer produce eggs or become pregnant.

Other problems can also lead to infertility in women. If the fallopian tubes are blocked at one or both ends, the egg can't travel through the tubes into the uterus and thus pregnancy can't be achieved. Blocked tubes may result from pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy.

PREGNANCY RATES FOR AVERAGE COUPLES

It often takes a number of perfectly timed cycles before pregnancy is achieved. The chances of getting pregnant each cycle varies a bit with age. If you are 20-25, your chance per cycle are about 25%. From there they begin to fall off. At 25-30 your chances are about 20%. At 30-35 they are about 15%. After 35 they may be about 10% per ovulatory cycle, and the chances continue the downward trend.

This means that the average woman under 30 will get pregnant within 6 cycles. Women in their early 30s get pregnant on average by the end of 9 cycles. Mid-30s would be a year. At any age you are considered infertile if you have been having regular unprotected intercourse for a year without conception; however, women over 35 should seek treatment after 6 months

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