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What You Should Know About
Infertility
by Michael Russell
From generation to
generation infertility has been a condition that plagues couples
worldwide. It is a condition that transcends race and color. Medically
speaking, infertility is a disease of the reproductive system. A couple
can be diagnosed with infertility if conception is not achieved after
one year of unprotected and well timed sexual intercourse. Infertility
could also be diagnosed if a woman had suffered several miscarriages
(recurrent pregnancy loss).
Who is at Risk? What you should know about infertility is that, it is a major
heartache and life crisis. It involves losses for both the individual and
society at large. Being a medical situation, both male and female, husband and
wife are at risk of infertility. The problems leading to infertility could
predominantly be from one of the partners, in which case it is called either the
male factor (if the problem is with the male) or the female factor (if the
female reproductive system is diseased), or it could be a combination of
problems with both partners. In some other cases, the cause could be rightly
described as unexplained.
Infertility is therefore not a
woman's problem as is believed in some cultures. In fact, approximately 40% of
cases of infertility are due to the male factor, 40% due to the female factor,
while in the other cases it is either a combined factor or unexplained The cause
of infertility is said to be unexplained, if after medical examination, nothing
medically serious could be found to be wrong with either of the couple and they
still cannot achieve conception after several efforts.
Generally, most physicians advise
couples not to worry yet about infertility unless they fall into any of these
categories:
- They are under 35 years old and
have tried to conceive without success for over 12months.
- They are over 35 and have tried
to conceive without success for over 6months
- They are over 30 and have a
previous history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), painful menstrual
periods, recurrent pregnancy loss, irregular menstrual cycles or a partner
suffers from low sperm count.
If you fall in any of these
categories, it would be wise to consult your ob/gyn or an infertility
specialist.
Can Infertility be Prevented? In
every medical situation, prevention is tied to the knowledge of the underlying
cause of the particular condition. In some cases, steps may be taken to prevent
some types of infertility, especially with respect to some established risk
factors i.e. factors that induce some types of infertility. Except in cases like
this, infertility is in most cases, unpreventable. You will understand this
better, if you remember that there are still several 'unexplained' infertility
problems. There isn't so much you can do to prevent what you do not know. Some
of the known risk factors that may contribute to infertility include:
Weight problems Age Tubal diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Endometriosis Smoking Alcohol
It is known that smoking and
alcohol are very bad for fertility. Cutting down on caffeine would also do you a
lot of good. Fertility and healthy pregnancy (when it does occur) requires you
to maintain a healthy body and the best physical shape possible.
Treatment Options - A variety of
medication and options exist for tackling infertility. As with other medical
conditions, it is always better to research your options, understand the
medication involved and its purpose. With more knowledge, you can better discuss
with your physician the setting up of aspecific treatment plan that addresses
your particular problem.
Treatment options available for
infertility include, ovulation inducers, artificial insemination, invitro
fertilization (IVF), surrogacy and surgery (in some cases).
Always remember that infertility
has no major signs or symptoms associated with it. Paying attention to your body
and getting regular checkups will be vital for your fertility.
Michael
Russell
Your Independent guide to
Infertility
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