Infertility Treatment

Infertility Treatment

Infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive despite not using any method of contraception and having regular sexual intercourse.

There are two types of infertility:

• Primary infertility: the inability to conceive after at least one year of unprotected intercourse.
• Secondary infertility: the inability to conceive now, even though at least one pregnancy has occurred before.

What Causes Infertility?

Many physical and psychological factors can cause infertility. These causes may be found only in the woman, only in the man, or in both partners.

What Causes Infertility in Women?

Causes that can prevent pregnancy include:

• Autoimmune diseases (disorders arising from the body's immune system)
• Congenital disorders of the reproductive system
• Cancer or tumors
• Bleeding and clotting disorders
• Diabetes
• Excessive exercise
• Eating and nutritional disorders
• Medications (chemotherapy drugs)
• Hormonal disorders
• Obesity
• Advanced age
• Ovarian cysts and polycystic ovary syndrome
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Thyroid disorders
• Smoking or alcohol use

Causes of Male Infertility

Male infertility disorders often result from a low sperm count, obstruction of sperm release, or sperm defects.

The most common causes

• Congenital defects
• Cancer treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy)
• Prolonged exposure to heat (in men who work seated for long periods, who wear thick underwear …)
• Alcohol, substance or tobacco use
• Hormonal imbalances
• Impotence (erection problems)
• Infections
• Certain medications
• Obesity
• Advanced age
• Retrograde ejaculation (semen flowing into the bladder instead of out of the body)
• Blockages in the sperm and semen ducts (due to sexually transmitted diseases, trauma or previous surgery)
• Environmental toxins,
• Vasectomy (tying of the sperm ducts in men)

Diagnostic Methods for Female Infertility

Although women under 30 may wait 1 year to try to conceive, for women over 35 the waiting period for spontaneous conception drops to 6 months. After a general physical and pelvic examination, a number of specific infertility tests can be performed.

Diagnostic Methods for Male Infertility

In men, too, many tests can be performed for infertility, such as semen analysis, hormone and genetic tests, imaging methods and testicular biopsy.

Infertility Treatment in Women

In some women, infertility can be corrected with one or two treatment approaches. Others, however, may need more complex and long-term treatment. Treatment may involve using certain fertility drugs to promote egg development and release; intrauterine insemination may be preferred; and if intrauterine adhesions or certain fibroids are found, they can be removed surgically.

Infertility Treatment in Men

Approaches aimed at resolving general sexual problems or ensuring healthy sperm are adopted.

• Lifestyle changes,

• Quitting smoking, alcohol and substance use,
• Having frequent, well-timed intercourse,

• Medication,
• Surgical approach (such as correcting problems that block the passage of sperm or conditions such as varicocele that impair sperm quality)
• Sperm retrieval

Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART)

In this context, IVF, also known as in vitro fertilization, is the most commonly used approach. It is a procedure in which many mature eggs retrieved from the woman are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus.

Complications of Infertility Treatment

• Multiple pregnancies
• Some fertility drugs can cause excessive ovulation in the ovaries. This may be accompanied by mild to moderate abdominal pain, marked abdominal bloating and nausea. It may last about 1 week. Rarely, more serious conditions requiring urgent treatment may occur, with rapid weight gain and difficulty breathing (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome).
• Bleeding or infection

*** In women, the chance of conceiving gradually decreases after the age of 35, and especially after 40.

In addition, the risk of miscarriage increases after 35.

Since it is now possible to have eggs retrieved and stored in your 20s, egg freezing can be considered if pregnancy is being postponed until after 35.