FAQs on Infertility

While infertility is a common occurrence, not a lot of people are comfortable talking about it because of the social stigma that is attached to it. If you are trying to conceive, but have been unsuccessful for different reasons, you are probably asking the same FAQs on infertility that we’ve enumerated below. Read the following FAQs on infertility and be enlightened as to your choices and next steps.

What is infertility and what causes it?
There are basically two definitions of infertility: one, the inability to get pregnant after at least a year of attempting to be conceive; two, being able to get pregnant suffering repeated miscarriages. Pregnancy is the culmination of a series of happenings: first, the woman’s ovary releases an egg, which is also called the ovulation stage; next, the egg passes through the fallopian tube on its way to the womb or uterus; then, the sperm of a man enters and fertilizes the egg along the way; finally, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. Infertility takes place when problems occur in any of these stages.

Is infertility solely the woman’s condition?
No, infertility does not pertain to the woman’s condition all the time. In fact, about one-thirds of cases of infertility are caused by male factors, while another third is caused by the concurrence of male and female factors. The remainder are caused by purely female factors.

What are the causes of infertility among men?
Several factors can cause a man to be infertile. These include: difficulty or inability to produce sperm; abnormal shape or structure of the sperm, which causes it to move abnormally and keeps it from reaching the egg for fertilization. These problems can be congenital, or developed as a result of disease or injury later in life.

What are the risk factors of infertility in men?
The most significant factor is the man’s general health. Other factors include: alcohol intake, the use of drugs, exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticide or lead; excessive smoking; health conditions and side effects of medication; exposure to radiation; and advanced age.

What are the causes of infertility among women?
Most of the cases of infertility among women are caused by problems during the ovulation stage. Women with ovulation problems typically suffer irregular or non-occurring monthly periods. Other causes are: blocked fallopian tubes; abnormal physical structure of the uterus, and fibroids in the uterus.

What are the risk factors of infertility in women?
The risk factors of infertility among women include: advanced age; high stress levels; poor or inadequate diet; excessive physical training; weight problems; excessive smoking; alcohol intake; sexually transmitted diseases and other health conditions that affect the hormonal balance.

How many years should women attempt conception before consulting the doctor?
If you are under thirty years old and have been unsuccessful at conceiving, you should not worry unless it has been one year, in which case you should consider consulting a doctor for a fertility evaluation with your partner. If you are over 30, six months should be enough time for trying. After which, you should see a doctor. Remember that a woman’s chances of conceiving decreases every year once she hits the 30-year threshold.

These FAQs on infertility may be helpful, but nothing beats going to the doctor.

Eddy Kong and his wife, Esther are victims of infertility. Over the last 5 years, they gather enough research and personal experiences to publish a book, “How To Increase Your Odds Of Conceiving”. They have 2 kids and 1 more coming up. They lives in Singapore city and spends their time teaching others how to get pregnant naturally and getting their infertility treated. Their latest book, “How To Increase Your Odds Of Conceiving Secrets” is available at http://www.17mininfertilitysecrets.com/tips/index.html