Infertility

Infertility is when a couple cannot get pregnant and around 1 in 5 couples may have difficulty conceiving.

How to get help

Some people get pregnant quickly, but for others it can take longer. If you are struggling to conceive after one year of trying it would be a good idea to get help and advice from your GP and consider seeing a therapist for emotional and psychological support. A GP can help with checks for common causes of fertility problems and suggest treatments that could help.

Fertility treatments

1. - Medical treatment for lack of regular ovulation
2. - Surgical procedures e.g., endometriosis, repair of the fallopian tubes, or removal of scarring
3. - Help with conception e.g., intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF

Some individuals access private treatment which can be expensive with no guarantee of success.

What causes infertility?

Every couple is unique and there are many possible causes of infertility with both partners. In many cases it is not possible to identify the cause.

Common causes of infertility include:

1. - Lack of regular ovulation (the monthly release of an egg)
2. - Poor quality semen
3. - Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
4. - Endometriosis – where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb (the endometrium) is found outside the womb

Risk Factors

There are also several factors that can affect fertility.

1. - Age - as fertility declines with age
2. - Weight – being overweight
3. - Sexually transmitted infections including Chlamydia
4. - Smoking
5. - Alcohol
6. - Environmental factors – exposure to certain pesticides, solvents and metals has been shown to affect fertility, particularly in men
7. - Stress can affect your relationship with your partner and cause a loss of sex drive; in severe cases, stress may also affect ovulation and sperm production.

Infertility Counselling

It is particularly helpful to seek the support of a therapist during this time to ensure that you and your partner are doing all you can to ensure you are keeping your stress levels to a minimum.

Fertility issues for women are quite common nowadays

Statistics show that one out of three couples in their lifetime experience fertility problems. Many couples who have been trying for years but to no avail. Some couples even give up trying after watching a doctor who gives them bad news. They would rather believe the worst about them than get the real facts. So what really is there to worry about?

Increased Risk of IVF

According to statistics, around twenty percent of all fertility issues can be attributed to increased risk of IVF. However, 15 percent of all couples would still find it difficult to conceive after a year of attempting. Some couples might be too embarrassed to undergo ultrasound testing, but let them know that this too is a serious medical condition like anything else.

Increased Risk of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

This is one of the leading causes of infertility for women, and it is also one of the leading causes of infertility for men as well. Pelvic inflammatory disease is another leading cause of infertility in both men and women. If left untreated, this can be passed on to your child in the form of an STD (sexually transmitted infections). Both gonorrhea and chlamydia can increase the risk of male reproductive failure, which can further increase your chances of having trouble conceiving.

Increased Risk of Recurrent miscarriages

Women with previous or present miscarriage experiences have an increased risk of experiencing recurrent miscarriage. Of course, most doctors won't tell you this because it's always best to catch any possible pregnancy issue at the earliest stages, but some of these cases of female fertility issues are so severe that recurrence is almost inevitable after the first pregnancy. If you do have a miscarriage during your first pregnancy, it's important to notify your doctor as soon as possible about your issues so that you can have yourself checked and treated. Most medical professionals will treat the previous or recurrent miscarriage in most cases with medication and then fertility treatment, while others will recommend more extreme procedures.

Decreased Sperm Production

If you have a history of low sperm production or low sperm count, your fertility issues are likely to be more severe than they would be if you didn't have any such history. For this reason, you may need to see your doctor as soon as possible if your sperm production has been affected.

Decreased Success Rate with IVF/ GIFT

Because male fertility issues can often be complicated and involve a number of different factors, not every couple who attempts to get pregnant will be successful. Unfortunately, it is very common for couples to have difficulty getting pregnant even with the best medical care, which can make infertility treatments more difficult. If your male fertility issues are making it difficult for you to get pregnant, your doctor may recommend more aggressive treatment options, such as artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilization.

Increased Risk of Miscarriage

Even though the overall success rate for couples trying to conceive is quite high, there are also couples who are much more likely to experience a failure. These couples are typically those with more complex fertility issues. Couples with male reproductive issues that make it more difficult to conceive may also be at an increased risk of losing their fertility and having a miscarriage. If you are a male reproductive specialist dealing with these couples, it's important to note that there is an increased risk of miscarriage for couples with male reproductive problems, such as having missing sperm or dysfunctional sperm production.

Alcohol Use

Men can also experience fertility issues from alcohol use. Both men and women can have chemical influences over the development of their reproductive organs. It is not uncommon for alcohol to reduce blood flow to the reproductive organs. If a man drinks alcohol on a regular basis, this may lower his chances of getting pregnant and may also increase the chances of experiencing other fertility-related issues.

Relationship Counselling Posts