CAUSES OF INFERTILITY IN MEN AND WOMEN

About infertility

If you are having problems conceiving, you are not alone; around one in seven couples has difficulty.
Infertility is often thought of as a female concern, but in fact in a third of cases it is because of male problems, such as a low sperm count.

What causes infertility?

Infertility in women

Conditions affecting a woman’s fertility can include:

• damage to the fallopian tubes
• ovulatory problems
• endometriosis
• conditions affecting the uterus
• a combination of factors
• no identifiable reason.

Other factors that may play a part include:

• age – female fertility declines sharply after the age of 35
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• gynaecological problems such as previous ectopic pregnancy or having had more than one miscarriage
• medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, and thyroid and bowel diseases
• lifestyle factors such as stress, being overweight or underweight, and smoking.

Infertility in men

Conditions that may result in infertility include:

• low sperm count or quality
• problems with the tubes carrying sperm
• problems getting an erection
• problems ejaculating.

Other factors that may play a part in infertility include:

• having had inflamed testes (orchitis)
• a past bacterial infection that caused scarring and blocked tubes within the epididymis as it joins the vas
• having received medical treatment such as drug treatment, radiotherapy or surgery – for example to correct a hernia, undescended testes or twisted testicles
• genetic problems
• diabetes www.facebook.com/sexproff
• lifestyle factors such as being overweight or having a job that involves contact with chemicals or radiation.

Male fertility is also thought to decline with age, although to what extent is unclear.