Reasons Why A Couple Can’t Get Pregnant

Definition of Infertility

The general medical definition of infertility for a couple is when they have had regular unprotected sex for at least 12 months and not gotten pregnant. Approximately, fifteen percent of all couples trying to have a baby fit this description.

The goal of visiting a fertility clinic is to try to determine what the cause of the infertility is. Generally speaking, infertility causes are broken down into two categories – causes affecting women or causes affecting men. While it is easy to understand this in simple terms, often it is a little bit of both that is contributing to a couple’s inability to get pregnant. About 20% of the time, no clear reason for infertility can be established.

Infertility Causes

Common infertility causes include the following:

  • Premature Menopause (women)
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (women)
  • Tubal Disorders – these are blockages or missing fallopian tubes and can be caused by a pelvic infection or scarring from surgery (women)
  • Ovulation disorder (women)
  • Abnormal Semen Test – this test can show no sperm, low sperm, inactive sperm (men)
  • Miscellaneous – genetic disorders, age, and endomitriosis (both women and men)
  • Diagnosing Infertility

    The following tests are commonly used to determine the diagnosis:

    Fallopian Tube Testing – standard test checks to see if tubes are blocked. The procedure for checking this is called a laparoscopy and can be accomplished using x-ray or surgery
    Egg Production Testing – temperature charts, ultrasound scans, and hormone testing
    Semen Analysis – this procedure is fairly common and can reveal a possible cause in male semen health

    Of course, if a man has had a vasectomy, the cause of infertility is clearly obvious.

    In cases where no cause can be found, the infertility cause is simply deemed as “unexplained”.

    Infertility Treatments

    One of the most common infertility treatments is to induce ovulation, which means to bring about the production of eggs in the female. This treatment is administered by using medicine to help bring on the ovulation and is known as ovulation induction.

    If the fallopian tubes are open, then artificial insemination may be a treatment option. This would be used in the case under which the male’s sperm is tested and determined to be incapable of producing pregnancy for any of various reasons as mentioned above.

    In vitro fertilization is a treatment option and is commonly used in all cases of infertility because all that is needed is the female’s egg, the male’s sperm, and the female’s healthy uterus. Once the egg is fertilized, it is injected back into the female uterus, so that she can carry the pregnancy to term.

    Other Causes of Infertility

    As with any medical condition, it is always best to consult with a local fertility clinic to get a full evaluation of your specific situation. Taking the time to determine the infertility cause can be a challenging exercise to endure. However, it is one that is well worth the time and effort to thousands of couples each year who are able to achieve a healthy pregnancy as a result.

    To learn more about infertility causes, visit http://fssc.com.au/. Fertility Solutions Sunshine Coast is a leading IVF Brisbane clinic, located in Queensland. They offer a warm and loving environment and have helped many couples achieve their dream of having a baby, through use of IVF treatment.

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