Infertility happens when a couple cannot conceive after having regular unprotected sex. It may be that one partner cannot contribute to conception, or that a woman is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term.
Causes in men
- Low sperm count
- Low sperm mobility (motility)
- Abnormal sperm
- Overheated testicles
- Ejaculation disorders
- Hormonal imbalance
- Genetic factors
- Mumps
- Hypospadias
- Cystic fibrosis
- Radiation
- Age: Male fertility starts to fall after 40 years.
- Exposure to chemicals: Pesticides
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Overweight or obesity
- Mental stress
Causes In Women
- Age: The ability to conceive starts to fall around the age of 32 years.
- Being obese or overweight
- Eating disorders
- Diet: A lack of folic acid, iron, zinc, and vitamin B-12 can affect fertility
- Exercise: Both too much and too little exercise can lead to fertility problems.
- Ovulation disorders
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Poor egg quality
- Thyroid problems
- Problems in the uterus or fallopian tubes can prevent the egg from traveling from the ovary to the uterus, or womb.
- Submucosal fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Environmental and occupational factors