If you and your partner are making futile attempts over and over to have a baby, you are not alone in your struggles. It is a well-recognised medical condition: called infertility. Infertility is diagnosed when you and your partner fail to give birth to an infant despite having frequent unprotected coitus for at least over a year.
Infertility is a complex condition and may result from myriad factors, such as an issue with either you or your partner or the presence of some conditions that can create obstacles to a healthy pregnancy. However, you should never think that infertility is an inescapable condition. As one of the best infertility doctors, let me tell you: nowadays, many safe and efficient therapies are available that can enhance your chances of getting pregnant.
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How to Medically Determine if I am Infertile?
In the case of men, they may need to undergo a physical exam and sperm analysis. The sperm analysis evaluates the health of the sperm.
For women, medical evaluation begins with a medical history and physical exam, for instance, a pelvic exam. The doctor also examines whether she ovulates regularly and whether her ovaries release eggs. These tests also include blood tests to determine hormonal efficacy. Moreover, the physician may also suggest ultrasound and X-ray to examine the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.
In most couples, the sole cause of infertility lies in an ovulation problem, an obstacle in the fallopian tubes, or a sperm deficiency problem. However, in 5-15% of cases, the tests fail to detect any palpable reason.
Symptoms
When to Visit a Doctor
1. Irregular or absent menstrual circles
2. Excruciatingly painful periods
3. They have a history of fertility problems
4. They have a medical history of endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory diseases
5. They have had multiple miscarriages
6. They have undergone treatments for cancer
Causes
Causes of Male Infertility
Abnormal sperm production is caused by myriad reasons, such as undescended testicles, diabetes, genetic defects, and infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, mumps or HIV, or enlarged veins in the testes (varicocele).
The discrepancy with the delivery of sperm
This condition is caused by a plethora of sexual problems, such as premature ejaculation, cystic fibrosis, blockage in the testicles or any damage inflicted on the reproductive organs.
Exposure to Certain Chemicals and Environmental Factors
Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals and natural factors, such as radiation, cigarette smoking, alcohol, marijuana, and anabolic steroids, can induce infertility. Moreover, high blood pressure and depression are also known to cause infertility. Regular exposure to tubs, such as hot tubs or saunas, can raise body temperature and may hamper sperm production.
Damage Induced By Cancer
Cancer and cancer treatments may induce permanent damage to your reproductive organs. Treatments for cancer, including chemotherapy and radiation, may also severely impair sperm production.
Causes of Female Infertility
Ovulation Disorder
This condition perturbs the release of eggs from the ovaries. Ovulation disorder includes many subtypes.
Firstly, polycystic ovary syndrome can negatively impact your ovulation.
Secondly, hyperprolactinemia, a condition describing the presence of excess prolactin (a hormone that stimulates breast milk production), might also interfere with ovulation.
Thirdly, the imbalance of thyroid hormone can also perturb the production of eggs and, consequently, ovulation and infertility.
There are still some miscellaneous causes of ovulation disorders, including eating disorders, tumours and too much exercise.
Uterine or Cervical Abnormalities
This condition includes all kinds of abnormalities with the cervix such as polyps in the uterus or the shape of the uterus. Often, benign tumours in the uterine walls can cause infertility by obstructing the pathways of the fallopian tubes or hindering the fertilised eggs from implanting in the uterus.
Damaged or Blocked Fallopian Tubes
According to the top 10 infertility doctors, the obstruction in the fallopian tubes is a pivotal cause of infertility among women. Most often, it is caused by inflammation of the fallopian tubes. The inflammation could be an outcome of pelvic inflammatory diseases, endometriosis or adhesions.
Endometriosis
It takes place when the endometrial tissues overgrow and protrude outside of the uterus. It can detrimentally affect the function of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
Primary ovarian insufficiency is otherwise called early menopause. In this condition, the ovaries stop functioning, causing a premature end of menstruation at the age of 40. Though the definitive cause of early menopause is yet to be uncovered, physicians suspect certain genetic conditions for creating the underlying conditions of the disease, such as Turner Syndrome or Fragile X syndrome.
Pelvic Adhesions
Pelvic adhesions are a band of scar tissues that could be caused by a range of conditions such as pelvic infection, appendicitis, endometriosis or pelvic surgery. These scar tissues are instrumental in causing infertility among women.
Cancer & its Treatment
Some varieties of cancers, such as reproductive cancer, are capable of impairing female fertility. Cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy can also pose a significant threat to fertility.
Hence, if you are struggling with the frustrations caused by infertility, infertility specialist Dr. Sukhamoy Barik is here to cure you once and for all.
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