Why doesn't pregnancy occur?
One in 6 couples has difficulty getting pregnant.
Frequently, there are no alarm signals or known causes.
If 12 months of testing have passed (or 6 months, in the case of women over 35 years of age), the couple should consult a specialist for evaluation and treatment.
What are the most important risk factors ?
Ladies
- Age over 35 years
- Irregular or absent menstruation
- Uterine curettage
- ENDOMETRIOSIS
- Sexually transmitted diseases or a history of pelvic infections
- Abdominal abdominal surgery history
- Chronic, immunological diseases, cancers
Men
- Sexually transmitted diseases or a history of pelvic infections
- History of abdominal or urological surgery
- Varicocele and other types of vascular damage
- Chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension, etc.
- Chemistry or radiotherapy in the background
- Mumps started after puberty
- Genetic diseases in the family
Lifestyle
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Unprotected sexual contact, multiple partners
- Exposure to toxic substances, pesticides, radiation
- Some drugs, steroids, anabolics
- Stress
What are the causes of infertility ?
Female factors
- Ovulatory dysfunction – lack or disorder of ovulation
- Micropolycystic ovaries (5 – 10% of women)
- Endocrinological or genetic diseases
- Obesity or excessive weight loss
- Very low ovarian reserve
- Damage to the fallopian tubes – inflammation, ectopic pregnancies
- Advanced endometriosis
- Uterine problems
- Malformations, bulky fibroids
- Intrauterine synechiae after curettage
Male factors
- Sperm dysfunction – changes in the spermogram, caused by:
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Varicocele – dilation of a vein in the testicle area
- Antisperm antibodies after trauma
- Hormonal imbalances – sometimes after anabolic steroids
- Ectopic testicles (not descended into the scrotum)
- Genetic defects
- Erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction
- Retrograde ejaculation – elimination of sperm in the bladder
- Lifestyle – Drugs, alcohol, medication, stress
Common factors
- Sexual problems – pain (dyspareunia, vaginismus), lack of erection
- Missing the fertile period – rare sexual contact or other periods
The fertile period is a period of 3-5 days before ovulation
- Sexual rest too long
Optimal: daily sexual intercourse or at most 2 days apart, during the fertile period