Posts Tagged ‘Fertility’
Infertility Causes
There is nothing more wonderful for people to experience than the joy that accompanies the birth of a long hoped-for child. Mothers stare in wonder into the beautiful eyes of their newborn child, and fathers gaze proudly at mother and child alike. The joy of having a family is something that few should miss, but the sad truth is that infertility is far more common today than it ever has been. Infertility means that men cannot produce sperm that are able to fertilize an egg, or that women cannot produce eggs that will grow inside their womb.
There are many causes of infertility, as well as other problem with the reproductive organs that result in infertility. Certain chronic illnesses can cause the fertility problems, and even treatments for disorders can result in infertility. Certain medications will have a negative effect on the reproductive systems of men and women alike, and can often lead to fertility problems. Cancer treatments can lead to cancer fertility issues, or even certain STDs are known to cause infertility. There are dozens of different causes of infertility in men and women both, and it is important to know as much about these different causes to ensure that you can avoid them as much as possible.
Women
Most of the infertility problems that women experience are the result of problems with their ovulation cycle. When the woman cannot produce eggs, there is nothing for the sperm to fertilize and thus there is no chance of pregnancy. Women who have abnormal or irregular periods may find that there is something wrong with their reproductive organs. Some female birth control hormones can affect women’s fertility, and it may take a while for women to become fertile once more after they finish taking the birth control. Sometimes the problems are only temporary and disappear with time, but sometimes the problems are permanent.
The above causes are the most common infertility causes in women, but there are some other causes that are not as commonly found. Some women have blocked fallopian tubes that result from pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy surgery, or endometriosis. Some women have problems with their uterus, or uterine fibroids may prevent them from having children. Cancer treatment will often result in fertility problems, particularly when the cancer is located near the pelvis. All of these things contribute to make a woman unable to have a natural pregnancy.
Men
Men are sometimes born with conditions that cause their sperm to be affected negatively. Some men are genetically predisposed to have a lower sperm count or poor sperm motility, and this often causes infertility problems. Some men injure themselves in such a way as to cause problems with their reproductive organs, while other men experience infertility as a result of an illness. Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common causes of infertility in men, and there are a number of different things that contribute to making men infertile.
The main cause of male infertility is the faulty production of sperm by the testicles. When not enough sperm is produced, there are not enough to survive the long journey to fertilize the egg. Some men also have problems that affect the motility of the sperm, which is the sperm’s ability to make it all the way to the egg. Some sperm are shaped abnormally, or their structure is too weak to be able to penetrate the egg and fertilize it. Testicular cancer is another primary cause of male infertility, and treatments for prostate cancer will often damage the reproductive system beyond repair.
There are many things that can place men and women alike at risk of infertility. The age of men and women may cause their infertility problems, and health problems are always a major cause of fertility issues. Smoking, drinking, and taking drugs will affect the reproductive systems of men and women alike, often resulting in their inability to have children. Certain pesticides can have a negative effect on men’s reproductive system, while some STDs can prevent a woman from having children.
It is essential for both men and women to take care of their bodies if they are trying to have children. The ability to have children is a gift, and the body needs to be properly cared for if children are to be produced. Living healthy lifestyles, caring for your body, and preventing illness as much as possible is the best way to ensure that your body remains healthy and able to have children.