If you and your partner are struggling to have a baby, you're not alone.

In the United
States, 10% to 15% of couples are infertile. Infertility is defined as not being able to
get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year for most
couples.

nfertility may result from an issue with either you or your partner, or a combination of
factors that prevent pregnancy. Fortunately, there are many safe and effective
therapies that significantly improve your chances of getting pregnant.

What can cause infertility in women?

A woman's age can have a big effect on her ability to
have a baby, especially as she enters her 30s and
40s. For a healthy woman in her 20s or early 30s, the
chances of conceiving each month is 25%-30%. But
by the time a woman is 40 years old, the chances are
10% or less.

The most common female infertility factor is an

ovulation disorder. Other causes of female infertility
include blocked fallopian tubes, which can occur
when a woman has had pelvic inflammatory disease
or endometriosis (a sometimes painful condition
causing adhesions and cysts). Congenital anomalies
(birth defects) involving the structure of the uterus
and uterine fibroids are associated with repeated
miscarriages.

What can cause infertility in men?

The most common male infertility factors include
azoospermia (no sperm cells are produced) and
oligospermia (few sperm cells are produced).
Sometimes, sperm cells are malformed or they die
before they can reach the egg. In rare cases,
infertility in men is caused by a genetic disease such
as cystic fibrosis or a chromosomal abnormality
 INFERTILITY
Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system
defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more
of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.
Infertility affects millions of people of reproductive age worldwild and
has an impact on their families and communities. Estimates suggest
that between 48 million couples and 186 million individuals live with
infertility globally. (2, 3, 4)
In the male reproductive system, infertility is most commonly caused
by problems in the ejection of semen (1), absence or low levels of
sperm, or abnormal shape (morphology) and movement (motility) of
the sperm.
In the female reproductive system, infertility may be caused by a
range of abnormalities of the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and the
endocrine system, among others.
Infertility can be primary or secondary. Primary infertility is when a
pregnancy has never been achieved by a person, and secondary
infertility is when at least one prior pregnancy has been achieved.

1.Myth: Infertility is rare. It’s easy for most women to get pregnant.
Fact: In the U.S., 15 percent of all couples will face fertility issues, and many will be diagnosed
with a reproductive disorder. If you’re under 35, fertility doctors advise that you try getting
pregnant for about a year before seeking help (however, don’t wait one year if you have obvious
problems like very irregular periods or known pelvic adhesions.) Women ages 35 and older
should see their doctor after six months of trying to conceive without pregnancy.

2. Myth: Infertility is a woman’s problem.

Fact: In about 50 percent of couples, sperm disorders or male factors cause infertility. The issue
may be the number of sperm, the shape of the sperm, or sperm’s ability to effectively move.
Many men who produce little or no sperm have blockages or other treatable conditions. It’s
important that men be tested early during the infertility evaluation.

3. Myth: Age doesn’t affect fertility if you’re healthy. Plus, waiting to have children isn’t a
problem because of new technology like in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Fact: The older a woman is, the more likely she is to have problems getting pregnant. Fertility
doctors do their best to overcome advancing age using a wide spectrum of fertility treatments,
including IVF, but by the time a woman reaches 35 her chances of getting pregnant are about
half of what they were between the ages of 19 and 26. After age 38, egg quantity and quality
begin to drop at a substantial rate, and this trend continues into the early/mid 40s. Therefore,
seeking help early may make a big difference in achieving pregnancy.

4. Myth: Conception is easy after baby #1.

Fact: More than 3 million people in the U.S. experience difficulty getting pregnant after baby #1.
Known as secondary fertility, this syndrome affects couples that already have one child but are
unable to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term for the second time. Many women think, “If
I’ve been pregnant before, there’s no way I can have a fertility problem.” The same factors
responsible for primary fertility problems are often to blame: pelvic scarring, endometriosis,
blocked fallopian tubes, defective ovulation, poor sperm quantity or quality, and so forth.
Whatever the cause, the condition either developed or worsened since the first birth.
Complications during labor and delivery could have triggered a problem, or the fertility problems
may be age-related if several years have passed. Treatments for primary and secondary fertility
problems are the same.

5. Myth: Stress causes infertility. Just relax, and you’ll get pregnant!
Fact: This idea (oftentimes blurted out by well-meaning people) is just not accurate for those
dealing with infertility. It is true that very high stress conditions can cause problems with
ovulation. However, for the vast majority of couples, stress cannot be directly linked as the
cause of their infertility. Many experts do believe that stress-minimizing activities (such as yoga
and acupuncture) are positive for the wellbeing of the patient — but they have not been proven
to give a definitive fertility benefit.
 Causes
Female reproductive organs
Female reproductive systemOpen pop-up dialog
boxEgg being fertilized and implanting in the
uterus
Fertilization and implantationOpen pop-up
dialog box
For pregnancy to occur, every step of the
human reproduction process has to happen
correctly. The steps in this process are:

One of the two ovaries releases a mature egg.

The egg is picked up by the fallopian tube.
Sperm swim up the cervix, through the uterus
and into the fallopian tube to reach the egg for
fertilization.
The fertilized egg travels down the fallopian
tube to the uterus.
The fertilized egg attaches (implants) to the
inside of the uterus and grows

Treatment for infertility

Some women need only one or two therapies to improve fertility. Other women may need several different types of
treatment to achieve pregnancy.

Stimulating ovulation with fertility drugs. Fertility drugs are the main treatment for women who are infertile due to
ovulation disorders. These medications regulate or induce ovulation. Talk with your doctor about fertility drug options
— including the benefits and risks of each type.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI). During IUI, healthy sperm are placed directly in the uterus around the time the ovary
releases one or more eggs to be fertilized. Depending on the reasons for infertility, the timing of IUI can be coordinated
with your normal cycle or with fertility medications.

Surgery to restore fertility. Uterine problems such as endometrial polyps, a uterine septum, intrauterine scar tissue
and some fibroids can be treated with hysteroscopic surgery. Endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, and larger fibroids may
require laparoscopic surgery or surgery with a larger incision of the abdomen.
 REFERENCE:
https://www.reproductivefacts.org/globalassets/rf/ho
me-page/logo/rf_newwebsiteheader.jpg

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estern-medicine-logo.png

"It always seems impossible

until it's done"
-Nelson Mandela
X- DARWIN
ZNNHS

Article about
"INFERTILITY"

Submitted to:

RENZ MARK LIBRADO RUIZ

Submitted by:
SHIEM URIEL G. ESTERA