Understanding the Causes of Infertility

Infertility is commonly defined as not being able to conceive after the course of approximately one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. Infertility is a challenge that affects millions of couples around the world. There are several factors that cause infertility and it is good to understand the different complexities that couples face as they face the challenge of not being able ot get pregnant. Dr. Andrew, a leading infertility Doctor in Utah, and his team, have a deep knowledge base and understanding of the female and male factors that cause infertility. We’ll share in this article a variety of causes of infertility that will help give you a better understanding as you continue on your journey to get pregnant.

We’ll start with the leading male factors that cause infertility. Sperm disorders can be one of the most common factors. Sperm-related issues like low sperm count, also know as oligospermia or low quality sperm motility, also known as asthenospermia, can attribute to male factor infertility. Another issue can be abnormal sperm morphology, also known as teratospermia. Another sperm related issue that’s not as common but can also impede the ability to get pregnant is having an issue with ejaculation. It is rare but sometimes a male’s sperm enters the bladder instead of exiting through the penis. Other issues for males can be related to hormone deficiencies. Low testosterone can reduce sperm production. There is also a condition called Variococele where the veins in the scrotum are enlarged which can increase the temperature in the scrotum and harm sperm production.

Now let’s switch gears to discussing female factors that cause infertility. The most common factor is related to ovulatory disorders, A condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS for short, can mess up a woman’s ovulation cycles. Primary ovarian insufficiency, also known as POI can can also cause problems with ovulation cycles. Some women also face tubal issues where their fallopian tubes are either damaged or blocked and it makes it difficult for the egg to pass from the ovary to the uterus which prevents fertilization. Causes of tubal blockage or damage can be from infections, or a condition called endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease, also known as PID. Other female infertility factors include abnormalities with the uterus such as polyps or fibroids that mess with implantation of the fertilized egg and makes it difficult to continue in pregnancy to full term. And the last one to mention is the age factor. As a woman gets older, she starts losing quality when it comes to her eggs and also the quantity of eggs is reduced.

There are some combined factors that are not gender specific. In some rare cases, the cause of infertility isn’t discovered. This can be really frustrating for couples, but it speaks to the challenges and complexity of our reproductive systems and health. There are certain lifestyle choices that can make it more difficult to get conceive. Smoking and substance abuse are horrible when it comes to male and female fertility. Avoid at all costs. Excessive alcohol consumption can also negatively impact male and female fertility. Obesity, stress and environmental factors like industrial chemicals and pesticides can also harm fertility.