Are you facing infertility? You’re not alone.

It is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of couples in the United States have trouble getting pregnant. If you’ve had unprotected sex for more than 12 months (or, if you’re over 35, six months) and are still not pregnant, it might be time to visit with the doctors at Fertility Associates of Memphis about your options for fertility treatment for the causes of infertility.

Infertility is just as common in men as women, both sexes sharing a 50 percent chance of being infertile. It is important to educate yourself on the causes of infertility, so you are armed with the right information to understand and make informed decisions along the path to parenthood.

Causes of Female Infertility

Hormones and anatomy play vital roles in fertility. Fertility Associates of Memphis doctors often see these common culprits, or causes of infertility in women:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that causes increased androgen levels, and the presence of multiple small cysts on the ovaries. These symptoms result in abnormal menstruation and ovulation that can make it hard to conceive.

Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial tissue (the uterine lining) grows outside the uterus causing heavy and painful periods. Endometriosis is associated with recurrent miscarriage.

Maternal Age can also cause infertility. Fertility begins to diminish after the age of 35, and some women can experience premature menopause, or decreased ovarian reserve, as early as their 20s or 30s.

Uterine septum and uterine fibroids  can makes it difficult for an embryo to implant and grow and be associated with a higher risk for miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage.

Diseases of the fallopian tubes, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis, can cause the tube to be blocked or swollen, interfering with the tube’s ability to transport a fertilized egg to the uterus.

Recurrent miscarriage is defined as couples with two or more consecutive miscarriages. There are many causes of miscarriage, including chromosomal abnormalities, blood clotting, abnormalities of the uterus and hormonal imbalances.

 

Causes of Infertility: Male

As in women, there are many factors that contribute to causes of infertility in the male. In male infertility, causes usually involve the quality, quantity and mobility of sperm. Fertility Associates of Memphis doctors will likely order a semen analysis as part of a fertility workup.

Low sperm counts refer to sperm concentration. There should be 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen. If the count falls under 10 million, fertility specialists consider it a low sperm concentration.

Varicoceles are enlarged varicose veins that occur in the scrotum. Varicoceles can raise the temperature of the testicles or cause blood to back up in the veins supplying the testicles, killing and damaging sperm.

 

To explore more causes of infertility and treatments, contact Fertility Associates of Memphis to set up a consultation with one of our experts in female and male infertility.