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Causes of infertility
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Causes of Female and Male Infertility
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Causes of Female Infertility |
Several problems can contribute to female infertility; however, the most common
causes of infertility in women are:
ovulatory disorders, Fallopian tube damage, endometriosis, cervical/uterine factors.
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1: Ovulatory Disorders
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These are usually the most common cause of infertility. Infrequent menstruation
(oligomenorrhea) or the lack of menstruation (amenorrhea) can serve as an indication
of ovulatory disorders. However, even women with regular periods may have an ovulatory
disorder. Ovulatory disorders result in problems with the process of ovulation,
or the release of the egg from the ovary at specific time intervals. In order for
pregnancy to occur, a single sperm must fertilize the egg. Therefore, if ovulation
does not occur (annovulation) or if it is irregular and/or infrequent, it can be
impossible or extremely difficult to achieve pregnancy. Hormonal imbalances, Polycystic
Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), diminished ovarian reserve, and ovarian cysts can all contribute
to ovulatory disorders.
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Normal Ovary and Ovarian Cyst
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PCO Ovary
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PCO Ultrasound
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2: Fallopian Tube Damage
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In order for fertilization to occur, the sperm must travel through a Fallopian tube
in order to reach the egg. Furthermore, a fertilized egg must be able to travel
along the Fallopian tube to the uterus so that implantation can take place. Therefore,
if the Fallopian tubes are partially or completely occluded (blocked), fertilization
and pregnancy cannot occur. Fallopian tube occlusion can result from Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease (PID), endometriosis, adhesions due to surgery, ectopic pregnancies, and
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
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Tubal and Pelvic Adhesions After PID
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Occluded Fallopian Tube
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3: Endometriosis
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Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue, which normally lines the
uterus, grows outside of the uterus and causes internal bleeding during menstruation
that culminates in painful adhesions. These endometrial lesions can then block the
Fallopian tubes, impede the movement of the tubes, and impair ovulatory function.
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Endometriotic Lesions on Pelvic Wall
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Ovarian Endometriotic Cyst
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4: Cervical/Uterine Factors
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Anatomical problems with the cervix, cervical infections, and unfavorable cervical
mucus can possibly impede fertility. Problems with the uterus that can contribute
to infertility include uterine polyps, uterine fibroids, and severe scarring of
the uterine wall.
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Uterine Fibroids
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Endometrial Polyp
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Causes of Male Infertility |
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The most common causes of male infertility are disorders affecting the production
of sperm, anatomical obstructions, immunological factors, and defective delivery
of sperm into the female genital tract.
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1: Sperm Production Disorders
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Sperm production disorders are the most common cause of infertility in men, and
tend to affect the quality and quantity of sperm produced. There are several factors
that can affect sperm production, such as infectious diseases, endocrine disorders,
varicocele (or varicose veins in the scrotum), immunological disorders, environmental
factors (e.g. pollution, stress), radiation, and cancer treatments. In the majority
of cases no obvious cause is found.
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Mature and Immature Sperms
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Normal and Abnormal Semen Analysis
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2: Anatomical Abnormalities
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Anatomical abnormalities of the male genital tract can affect fertility since they
may partially or completely block the expulsion of semen. The abnormality could
have been present from birth, or it may arise later in life. Several factors can
cause obstruction of the male genital tract, such as infection, inflammation, and/or
previous surgery.
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3: Immunological Factors
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Men may suffer from immunological disorders. In some cases, men make antibodies
to their own sperm. As a result, the sperm are often not motile and may even agglutinate
(or stick together). Both of these factors would be detrimental to fertilization.
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4: Defective Delivery of Sperm
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The most common causes of this problem are impotence and premature ejaculation.
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