What Causes Infertility ?

Infertility is very common in humans - reproduction in other animals is much more efficient - 1 in 6 couples of child bearing age suffer from infertility. No one is to blame. It is a disease like any other disease and should be treated as a serious health care problem. It is caused by a combination of problems in both partners but is also unexplained in about 20% of the cases. Unexplained infertility (also called idiopathic infertility) causes great distress - to patient and physician - a known cause raises the hope hope that something can be done - If you know the question you can try and find an answer. Not knowing what the question is makes defining and answer frustrating for all concerned.

Some of the most common causes on the male side are:

• Azoopspermia where no sperm cells are present in the semen - this may be due to a failure in sperm production or to blockages which prevent the sperm reaching the seminal fluid.
• Oligozoospermia where few sperm are produced - it is often assumed that 20 million sperm per milliliter (ml) are necessary for conception through intercourse.
• Asthenozoospermia where the motility of the sperm is impaired making fertilization less likely.
• Teratozoospermia where the sperm has abnormal forms - shape, tail structure etc.
• A combination of the last three OATS (Oligo-astheno-terato-zoo spermia) makes matters even worse.

Some of the most common causes on the female side are:

• Ovulation disorder
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Pelvic inflammatory disease which can cause blockages in the tubes
• Endometriosis - which can be painful as well as causing adhesions, particularly over the ovaries
• Congenital abnormalities affecting the absence or structure of the uterus
• Fibroids which may be associated with repeated miscarriages