Infertility – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Saturday, April 28, 2018 by Rhonda Johansson

Infertility refers to the inability to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex. According to the latest medical statistics, this condition affects one in every six couples in the United States.

Infertility can equally be due to the woman, the man, or by both sexes due to a clinical problem.

Infertility in men can be due to low or absent sperm count.

Risk factors for women include uterine problems, age, stress, and blocked Fallopian tubes. Women with recurrent pregnancy losses (miscarriages) are also considered infertile. Women who are older than 35, have irregular periods and are having difficulties conceiving after six months of trying should visit her doctor.

Alcohol and drug use can contribute to infertility for both sexes.

Pregnancy is the result of four crucial steps:

The release of an ovary (ovulation);
The joining of the sperm and the egg (fertilization);
The ability of the fertilized egg to travel from the fallopian tube to the uterus (womb); and finally
The ability of the fertilized egg to attach itself to the uterus (implantation).

Infertility may result from a problem with any of these steps.

Known side effects of infertility

Infertility causes emotional damage. Many couples fight and/or separate because of the stress not being able to conceive can bring.

Women, in particular, are more prone to depression after being diagnosed as infertile.

Infertility is usually a symptom of another medical condition. Thus, it is important for both the man and woman to have themselves checked by a doctor.

Body systems harmed by infertility

Infertility does not harm any bodily system, as it, itself, is a result of another problem. However, infertility signals problems with a person’s reproductive system.

Food items or nutrients that may prevent infertility

Lifestyle changes can greatly improve your chance of becoming fertile. Of these habits, eating correctly is considered the easiest to do. A Harvard study concluded that women who switched to a “fertility diet” showed an 80 percent improvement in their ovulation disorder. The diet involves:

Less trans fat and more monosaturated fat
More high-fiber, low-glycemic, carbohydrate-rich food
More vegetarian sources of iron and fewer meat sources
Less animal protein and more vegetable protein

Women are also encouraged to supplement their diet by taking in more vitamins, specifically:

Iron
Vitamin B12
Magnesium
Zinc
Folic Acid
Vitamin C
Vitamin E

This applies to men, too, as nutritional deficiencies can lead to decreased sperm health and lower sperm count.

Treatments, management plans for infertility

Treatment plans for infertility are developed based on:

The duration of infertility;
The age of the female;
The factors contributing to infertility; and
The couple’s preference.

Usually, the result of such dialogue is a plan focusing on lifestyle change. Nevertheless, a couple may decide on medical and surgical therapies. A reproductive endocrinologist may offer intrauterine inseminations (IUIs) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

There are also medicines that women can take to treat infertility. These typically stimulate glands to produce more reproductive hormones.

Where to learn more

Summary

Infertility refers to the incapacity to fulfill pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected sex.

The condition may be caused by physical medical conditions (such as reduced semen quality or ovulatory disorders) and lifestyle habits such as cigarette smoking and alcohol.

Changing one’s lifestyle – particularly what one eats – has been shown to improve infertility symptoms dramatically.

Couples may also opt to have medical interventions such as in vitro fertilization.

Sources include:

Natural-Fertility-Info.com

Tagged Under: Tags: Infertility