Infertility

Male Infertility

Male-related causes of infertility are generally related to problems with either sperm production or motility (i.e., the sperm has difficulty reaching the egg). These problems may be developmental (existing from birth), or they may arise later in life as a result of certain types of illness or injury.

Sperm-related fertility problems arise when men produce no sperm or too few sperm to impregnate someone. Lifestyle factors, such as alcohol and drug use, can influence the number and quality of sperm. Inadvertent exposure to environmental toxins and hazards, such as pesticides or lead, may also lead to lower sperm production, as may intentional exposure to chemicals via chemotherapy, for example. In addition, sexually transmitted infections or mumps, even when experienced as a child, may lead to low sperm counts in men. More chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension may also negatively affect a male's fertility.

Even in cases where sperm production is adequate, the sperm may not be ejaculated properly because of a blockage in the vas deferens, which is the mechanism that carries sperm from the testicles to the penis. If a man has had a reversed vasectomy, the vas deferens may be scarred. Certain injuries and structural anomalies in the male body can also cause sperm blockage.

Diagnosing male infertility involves a semen analysis and may require a blood sample. A semen analysis measures the amount and quality of sperm a man produces. This analysis also tests sperm morphology, which allows a physician to examine the percentage of sperm that have a normal shape. Another key factor of examination is the sperms' motility, which refers to the percentage of sperm that can successfully and easily move forward. The last factor of investigation is the semen's pH level. Semen should not be too acidic nor too alkaline.

Female Infertility

Because of the complexity of the female reproductive system, female infertility is somewhat more complex than male infertility is. Women's structural or mechanical fertility-linked abnormalities can also be caused by lifestyle factors, disease, infection, or illness. However, female infertility problems may also be affected by unique issues that do not influence male fertility, such as ovulation concerns and age.

One of the most common abnormalities in the female reproductive system involves the fallopian tubes, which carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. These tubes may become blocked because of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or various types of surgery. There may also be fibroids in the uterus or scar tissue resulting from a sexually transmitted disease around the cervical opening. Structural or mechanical abnormalities are believed to account for 40 percent to 55 percent of all female-related infertility problems.

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