| SolveYourProblem
Article Series: Pregnancy
Pregnancy: Everything You Need To Know
What
If You Can't Conceive a Baby?
So, you have decided to work on a family;
however you have noticed a problem. You have been trying
for months, maybe even a year, yet still no luck. There are many
reasons why this could be happening. It is possible that infertility
is an issue. Here is a look at the possible reasons for infertility,
and your failed attempts to conceive. The most fertile time
for a woman is ovulation time, a segment around the 14th day
of her cycle. Due to varying times of women’s cycles, it is
difficult to place an exact date that would be most fertile
for every woman.
The
egg is captured by a fallopian tube and is viable for up
to 24 hours. However, its best chance of being fertilized
is within the first twelve hours following ovulation. To obtain
successful conception, the sperm and egg must meet in the fallopian
tube. Sperm generally have a window of approximately 72 hours,
and must be in the tube to intercept the egg. When the egg
is indeed fertilized, it begins its trip to the uterus and
within two to four days, it will attach itself to the uterine
wall or lining, as it is known. The nine-month journey begins.
The
matter of infertility is common in women, however, less prevalent
than in men. Many reasons and conditions can cause
infertility. Sometimes problems involving hormones, diseases,
or organ infections can directly interfere with fertility.
However, there
are solutions - so don't be discouraged.
Some causes of fertility issues in men include:
Low
sperm concentration. A normal sperm concentration is greater
than or equal to 20 million sperm per milliliter of
semen. A count of 10 million or fewer sperm per milliliter
of semen indicates low sperm concentration (sub fertility).
A count of 40 million sperm or higher per milliliter of semen
indicates increased fertility.
Impaired
shape and movement of sperm, sperm must be properly shaped
and able to move rapidly and accurately toward the egg
for fertilization to occur. If the shape and structure (morphology)
of the sperm are abnormal or the movement (motility) is impaired,
sperm may not be able to reach the egg.
Abnormal
sperm production or function, most cases of male infertility
are due to sperm abnormalities.
Testosterone
deficiency (male hypogonadism) Infertility can result from
disorders of the testicles themselves, or an abnormality
affecting the hypothalamus or pituitary glands in the brain
that produce the hormones that control the testicles. In many
instances, no cause for reduced sperm production is found.
When sperm concentration is less than 5 million per milliliter
of semen, genetic causes could be involved. A blood test can
reveal whether there are subtle changes in the Y chromosome.
General
health and lifestyle, a man's general health and lifestyle
may affect fertility.
Some common causes of infertility related to health and lifestyle
include:
Stress,
problem with fertility itself can sometimes become long term
and discouraging, producing more stress. Infertility
can affect social relationships and sexual functioning.
Emotional
stress. Stress may interfere with certain hormones needed
to produce sperm.
Malnutrition. Deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin C, selenium, zinc
and foliate may contribute to infertility.
Obesity. Increased body mass may be associated with fertility problems
in men.
Age. A gradual decline in fertility is common in men older than
35.
Tobacco
smoking. Men who smoke may have a lower sperm count than
do those who don't smoke.
Alcohol
and drugs, alcohol or drug dependency can be associated with
general ill health and reduced fertility. The use of certain
drugs also can contribute to infertility. Anabolic steroids,
for example, which are taken to stimulate muscle strength and
growth, can cause the testicles to shrink and sperm production
to decrease.
Causes
of female infertility:
The
most recognized reasons for infertility in women include...
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic
ovary syndrome
- Elevated
prolactin
- Fallopian
tube damage or blockage
- Ovulation
disorders
- Benign
uterine fibroids and pelvic adhesions
- Early
menopause
Attempts to restore fertility in men include:
The general sexual problems can be treated in many fashions.
Checking for premature ejaculation, or impotence, can be fixed
by way of medication, sometimes even with behavioral modification.
When low sperm count is an issue, you can seek an urologist,
to run sperm count tests, and they will often prescribe medication
to remedy. If it is a case of the woman having an issue with
fertility, there are many options to check into.
Fertility drugs (ovulation induction):
Drugs are the main treatment for the cure of infertility in
women, as many underlying issues pertain to ovulation malfunctions.
The medications prescribed to women are meant to restore ovulation,
or in some cases give it a boost. Natural follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), is what these drugs
are meant to mimic. Some of the most common drugs are as follows,
Clomiphene citrate this orally taken pill, is meant to boost
ovulation in women who have ovulatory malfunctions. It is useful
to induce the body to release vital FSH and LH hormones. Human
menopausal gonadotropin this is an injection which is meant
to induce menstruation in women whom have an inactive pituitary
gland. Follicle stimulating hormone or FSH (Gonal-F, Follistim,
Bravelle) works by causing ovaries to produce mature egg follicles.
Metformin This drug to be taken orally, is used to stimulate
ovulation
Finally, you might consider one more practice, the use of
surgery. Surgery may be an option for infertility. When there
are issues with fallopian tubes, they can be repaired by way
of laparoscopy surgery. It is more difficult to deal with endometriosis;
usually the method of choice is ovulation therapy. In-vitro
fertilization is one more option, whereas an egg and the sperm
are combined in a lab, and then inserted into the uterus.
Click here if you are having trouble conceiving or having fertility problems. It's my SolveYourProblem recommendation.
# # # # #
by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
> Home > Pregnancy Articles : Main Page
|
