What is infertility?
You have visited your gynecologist in Punjab, and through a diagnosis, you got to know about ‘INFERTILITY’. It is the situation when a couple cannot conceive after having unprotected sex from 6 to 12 months. In such a case, you must visit the best IVF centre in Punjab to boost your chances of conception and understand what you need to do.
Types of Infertility
- Primary Infertility
Primary infertility is the situation when a couple is trying for 12 months, despite unprotected sex or birth control measures, but results are not coming successfully.
- Secondary Infertility
Secondary Infertility is a situation when a couple has conceived in the past, but now they are having trouble.
Causes of Male Infertility
Semen and sperm – In some cases, sperm cannot reach the egg to fertilize it. Some of the problems which can occur are:
- Low sperm mobility
- Low sperm count
- Abnormal sperm
If the sperm is abnormal then sperm will not be carried effectively. This problem is likely to happen due to:
- Overheated testicles
- Ejaculation problem
- Medical problem
- Hormonal imbalance
Additional causes
- Genetic factors
- Mumps (testicle inflammation)
- Hypospadias (urethral opening is under the penis)
- Radiation therapy
- Cystic fibrosis
- Medications
- Age
- Exposure to chemical
- Overweight
- Chemotherapy
- Anabolic steroids
- Mental stress
- Excessive alcohol consumption
Causes of female infertility
Different factors can affect the woman’s fertility. Some of the possible factors are:
- Age
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Eating habits
- Diet
- Exposure to certain chemicals
- Exercise
Medical conditions
Female infertility is mostly due to ovulation issues as it affects the cycle when the eggs are released. The problem can happen due to:
- Poor egg quality
- Chronic conditions
- Thyroid issue
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Premature Ovarian Failure
Additional causes
- Endometriosis
- Submucosal fibroids
- Surgery
- High cholesterol levels
- Previous sterilization treatment
Diagnosis
For both the patients, the doctor will ask in detail about the medical history, sexual habits, medications, and perform a physical examination.
Infertility tests for men
- Semen analysis
- Blood test
- Ultrasound
- Chlamydia test
Infertility tests for women
- Blood test
- Hysterosalpingography
- Laparoscopy
Other tests include
- Ovarian reserve testing
- Genetic testing
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Chlamydia test
- Thyroid function test
What are the treatment options?
Be it male or female, the treatment will depend on the reason for infertility.
Fertility treatments for men
- Erectile problem
For premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction, the doctor suggests medications or behavioral therapy.
- Retrograde ejaculation
Sperm is taken from the bladder and then injected into the egg in the lab.
- Varicocele
In this case, the varicose vein is removed from the scrotum.
- Epididymal blockage
In this case, the epididymis is corrected through surgery.
Fertility treatments for women
- Clomifene (Clomid, Serophene)
Perfect for the women who do not ovulate regularly or at all, because of PCOS.
- Metformin (Glucophage)
If the above-mentioned one did not help the women then this option is suggested.
- Human menopausal gonadotropin, or hMG (Repronex)
It contains LH and FSH. if ovulation is not occurring then this injection is suggested.
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (Gonal-F, Bravelle)
The pituitary gland produces it which helps to control the estrogen level in the ovaries and it allows the eggs to mature.
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (Ovidrel, Pregnyl)
It is used in combination with FSH, clomiphene, and hMG. Through this, the eggs will ovulate at the necessary time.