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What is Infertility?

Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system that hinders conception. There are many factors that must come together in order to conceive a child:
  • Healthy sperm and eggs
  • Unblocked fallopian tubes
  • The sperm's ability to fertilize the egg
  • The egg's ability to implant itself in the uterus
  • Sufficient embryo quality - it must be healthy and the woman's hormonal environment must be adequate for development

If just one of these factors is dysfunctional, the result is infertility.

It is important to remember that infertility is a disease, like diabetes or cancer, not a condition. In the United States alone it affects approximately 6.1 million women and their partners.

Common causes of infertility in men:
  • Azoospermia - no sperm cells are produced
  • Oligispermia - few sperm cells are produced
  • Malformed sperm cells that are unable to reach the egg
  • Sperm cells die before reaching the egg
  • Genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis or chromosomal abnormalities
  • STD's such as Chlamydia
  • Tuberculosis
  • Schistosomiasis - a blood parasite disease
  • Exposure to potentially toxic substances in diet or environment
  • Patterns of sexual behavior

Common causes of infertility in women:
  • Ovulation disorder
  • Blocked fallopian tubes caused by pelvic inflammatory disease or endometrosis
  • Birth defects affecting the structure of the uterus
  • Fibroids
  • Unsafe abortions
  • STD's such as Chlamydia
  • Tuberculosis
  • Schistosomiasis - a blood parasite disease
  • Exposure to potentially toxic substances in diet or environment
  • Patterns of sexual behavior

Treatments for infertility include:
  • In Vitro Fertilization - eggs are surgically removed from an ovary and mixed with sperm in a Petri dish. The eggs are examined after about forty hours. If fertilization has occurred, the embryos are inserted into the uterus. This type of treatment is normally used when fallopian tubes are blocked or men have a low sperm count.
  • Fertility medications - stimulate the ovaries to release eggs.
  • Tuboplasty - Surgery to open blocked fallopian tubes.
  • Artificial Insemination - donor sperm is injected into the uterus.
  • Zygote intrafallopian transfer - Eggs are removed, fertilized outside of the uterus, then placed in the fallopian tubes.
  • Gamete intrafallopian transfer - Eggs are removed, and placed in the fallopian tube along with sperm, allowing fertilization to take place inside the body.
  • Counseling couples on timing of intercourse

Infertility affects approximately one in every ten couples. 		Click to visit the FPMU site
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