Technology Information

February 28, 2010

Infertility Factors - Age, Sex & Other

Infertility Symptoms - Definitions

When a couple is unable to become pregnant after 12 months of unprotected intercourse, they are considered infertile. Infertility is the inability to have a baby.

One or both partners have varying emotional reactions when they are diagnosed as infertile. Extreme reactions often come from couples who are childless.

Infertile couples who’ve never had children are classified under primary infertility.

On another note, couples who classify under secondary infertility are those who have had a baby before but are now having trouble getting pregnant once more.

The Man Factor

Various physical and emotional factors trigger infertility.

“Male factors” like hormone deficiency, low sperm count, impotence, retrograde ejaculation, environmental pollutants and scarring from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) cause roughly 30 to 40% of infertility cases.

Frequent marijuana use and intake of prescription drugs like cimetidine, nitorfurantoin, and spironolactone may affected sperm count.

Being Female

Scarring from STDs, hormonal imbalances, ovulation dysfunction, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, poor nutrition, pelvic infection, tumors, and fallopian tube abnormality are examples of “female factors.” These are the primary causes of 40 to 50 per cent of infertility cases.

Around 10 to 30% of infertility cases are attributed to risk factors from both male and female and other unknown causes.

It has been found that a small number, just 10 to 20%, of couples fail to conceive after trying for a year. It is very important for couples to try having a baby for at least 12 months.

Age Sensitive Causes

Healthy partners both below 30 years of age having intercourse regularly only have a 25 to 30% probability every month to become pregnant. A woman’s fertility peak is during her 20s. The likelihood of pregnancy for women above 35 years old is less than 10% each month, even less for those beyond 40 years old.

Other Causes Not Age Related

Factors related to age are not the sole reasons for infertility. Infertility may also be increased due to the following:

* Having more than one sexual partner (high STD risk)
* STIs
* Pelvic inflammatory disease history
* History of epididymitis or orchitis in men
* Mumps in males
* Vein engorgement in the scrotum
* Health background citing exposure to DES (both male and female)
* Eating problems among females
* Anovulatory and irregular menstrual cycles
* Endometriosis
* A blockage in the cervix or uterine defects
* Long-term disease like diabetes

Other Useful Information

Read this to find out more on how to increase chances of pregnancy .

Check this out to learn more about insurance that covers infertility .

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