When a couple struggles with conceiving a child or carrying a pregnancy to term, it is generally understood the woman has fertility issues. In some cases, this is true but it is equally a problem of male reproductive health. Each year in the US, approximately 4 million men age 45 and younger seek treatment for infertility. A significant number of them are diagnosed with male-related infertility problems. Female-related infertility problems account for roughly the same number. Regardless of the cause of infertility, there are many things that can be done to overcome infertility, including medication, surgery, and assisted reproductive technologies that sometimes include in vitro fertilization (IVF). Here are 10 things nobody told you about infertility that may encourage a struggling couple to seek treatment and create a beautiful family in the near future.
#1 -- Age is the biggest factor in infertility
Your age and his. Female fertility diminishes a bit around age 27; by 37, approximately 50% of all women will struggle with fertility. By 42, 90% will be infertile. The decline in male fertility isn’t as steep but it’s steep enough to matter. Before age 25, 8% of men trying to make a baby will fail after a year of trying. By age 35, 15% will experience infertility and the decline in fertility continues after that.
#2 Smoking diminishes both male and female fertility
So do alcohol, steroids, pesticides, and other common environmental toxins. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, as many as 13% of all cases of female infertility are caused by cigarette smoking, which also increases the risk for miscarriage. Male smokers face reduced fertility, too. Both female and male infertility are affected by hormone imbalances and structural issues but infertility in either gender is also affected by lifestyle and exposure to hundreds of pollutants in the home, the workplace, and the environment as a whole.
#3 -- Untreated STDs can cause infertility
Symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea often go unnoticed in women but 10% to 15% of women who have these sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and do not get adequate treatment develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that makes them infertile. Infection of the fallopian tubes can also make pregnancy impossible although no symptoms of infection are felt. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises annual screenings for gonorrhea and chlamydia for all sexually active women 25 and younger and women of any age who have a new sex partner, multiple sex partners, or who have sex with a partner with an STD. Between 4 and 5 million Americans gets chlamydia infection each year.
#4-- Losing (or gaining) weight may “cure” your infertility
Puberty, menstruation, and fertility are all closely linked to the percentage of body fat a woman carries. Too much weight often means the percentage of body fat is too high for optimum fertility. Women who are underweight or who are so athletic they no longer menstruate may face difficulty with fertility as their ratio of body fat is too low to support ovulation and/or fertility. In either case, losing or gaining weight may “cure” infertility if no other reproductive complications exist in the woman or her male sex partner.
#5 -- Previous birth control methods influence fertility
Women have never in history enjoyed so many effective methods for birth control but the effects of hormone-based contraceptives may linger long after use has stopped and pregnancy is desired. It may take longer, up to a year or more, before the body starts ovulating regularly when injectable contraceptives are stopped. Some women become super-fertile shortly after stopping birth control pills as their bodies resume ovulation with a vengeance. Every woman is different and it might be advisable to use barrier means (condoms or a diaphragm, for example) of birth control for a few months after stopping use of hormone-based contraceptives to give the body time enough to return to ovulation on a regular, predictable basis.
#6 -- Infertility affects men and women in equal number
In the US, roughly 6% of all married women ages 15 to 44 years of age do not get pregnant after trying for a year. Twelve percent of women in this same age group experience impaired fecundity, a form of infertility characterized by an inability to carry a pregnancy to term. Even though a woman’s pregnancy status is a mark of fertility, the problem is just as likely to be a problem with the male as it is the female. Approximately 35% of all cases of infertility can be attributed to issues concerning the woman alone, 35% concern the male alone, 20% represent a combination of various factors stemming from both partners, and 10% are simply unexplainable.
#7 -- Infertility affects your entire life
Regardless of the cause of infertility, the condition affects much more than a woman’s ability to have a baby. Men and women alike may suffer issues of low self-esteem, diminished self-image, loss of hope and dreams, and depression. These low feelings often spill over into the couple’s relationship with one another, with their extended family and social circles, and their performance on the job. Infertility is a physical disease that can deeply affect mental and emotional health. Many couples find relief in professional or spiritual counseling from trusted advisors.
#8 -- Conventional medications and surgery overcomes almost all infertility
The good news is that up to 90% of all cases of infertility can be overcome with conventional medications and surgical procedures that correct physical abnormalities that impair fertility. In vitro fertilization is closely associated with infertility but fewer than 3% of all infertility cases warrant IVF and other methods of assisted reproductive technologies.
#9 -- Infertility treatments require male and female participation
When treating infertility, male and female participation is required, regardless of the source of infertility. In same-sex relationships, both partners must be committed to the process. Since the cause of infertility is equally likely to be male or female or a combination of the two, both partners must be thoroughly tested to identify all factors that influence fertility. Emotional support will be crucial and both partners need to understand the cause of infertility, how it is to be treated, timeline of treatments, and how each partner can assist the other to succeed.
#10 -- Medical breakthroughs affecting infertility are happening faster than most other medical specialties
Many couples battling infertility feel isolated and alone, especially when friends and family members seem to have babies with ease. Other babies might not come with the ease one imagines, though, as there is a cultural reluctance to discuss matters of infertility. Scientifically speaking, however, the speciality of reproductive health is absolutely exploding with new information, medical breakthroughs, and technological advancements that bring increased understanding of infertility on an almost-daily basis. Of all medical specialties, advances and breakthroughs affecting infertility are happening at a much faster pace than most medical fields. Couples struggling with infertility might rest a little easier knowing they have a highly organized global team of medical and scientific experts diligently working on their behalf to find ways to bring babies to everybody who wants them.
Sources:
"Quick Facts About Infertility."American Society for Reproductive Medicine. ASRM, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
"For Family & Friends: Myths and Facts About Infertility."RESOLVE. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
"Reproductive Health: Infertility FAQs."CDC / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. US Department of Health and Human Services, 16 Sept. 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.