Contents:
- Medical Video: What causes infertility in men and what treatments are out there?
- 1. Irregular menstrual cycles
- 2. Very much bleeding or too little during menstruation
- 3. Age exceeds 35 years
- 4. Impotence and ejaculation problems
- 5. Lack or being overweight
- 6. Three consecutive miscarriages
- 7. Chronic illness
- 8. Cancer in the past
- 9. History of sexually transmitted diseases
- 10. Smoking or consuming alcohol
Medical Video: What causes infertility in men and what treatments are out there?
For most couples, the initial signs of a fertility problem are when you have been routinely having sex without contraception for more than a year, but still not pregnant. Even if your menstrual cycle is regular, your sex life is healthy, your health is good, and you don't have any risk factors, you and your partner can still experience infertility problems.
For some other couples, there are some early warnings or trigger factors that are a sign of fertility problems, so they already know before even trying to get pregnant for one year without success.
The following are some signs that you and your partner must check. If each of the points below is experienced by you or your partner, maybe this is the time to consult a fertility specialist.
1. Irregular menstrual cycles
Irregular menstrual cycles can be a sign of infertility problems, if your cycle is unusually short or unusually long (less than 24 days, or more than 35 days), or menstruation often comes unexpectedly. If this happens to you, discuss with your doctor. Irregular cycles can be a sign of ovulation problems.
2. Very much bleeding or too little during menstruation
Menstruation for 3 to 7 days is normal bleeding. However, if the bleeding is too little or too excessive, you should discuss this with your doctor.
Also to worry about is if you experience bleeding that is much different from month to month, both in terms of volume, color, or length of time. Or if you suffer from severe abdominal cramps that are not normal every time menstruation, it can also be a symptom of fertility problems.
3. Age exceeds 35 years
If you are female and over 35 years old, your chances of experiencing infertility are higher. For example, at the age of 30, a woman's chance to get pregnant is 20% in each cycle. At the age of 40, the opportunity decreased by 5%. So, if you are more than 35 years old, you should ask your fertility specialist if you have not had results after six months of sex without contraception.
4. Impotence and ejaculation problems
Infertility factors in men are not always clear. Usually, low sperm count or stunted sperm mobility can only be determined based on sperm analysis in the laboratory (in other words, you will not be able to detect this yourself). However, if your partner experiences sexual dysfunction, this can be a sign of infertility.
5. Lack or being overweight
Too thin or too fat can cause infertility problems. In addition, excessive dietary habits or too much exercise can also cause problems for fertility.
How do you know if you are too thin or too fat? Check whether your body mass index is on a healthy scale.
6. Three consecutive miscarriages
Indeed, infertility is usually associated with the ability to get pregnant. However, a woman who repeatedly gets pregnant but continues to experience miscarriages also means her fertility is problematic.
Because miscarriage is common (occurring in 10% to 20% of all pregnancies), doctors usually do not consider miscarriage as a fertility problem, unless it occurs three times in a row. However, many doctors will begin fertility examinations after women have miscarried twice in a row.
7. Chronic illness
Chronic diseases, along with their treatment, can cause fertility problems. Diseases such as diabetes and hypothyroidism can reduce your fertility. Insulin, antidepressants, and thyroid hormones can cause erratic cycles. Tagamet (cimetidine), a treatment used in the treatment of gastric ulcers, and some treatments for hypertension can also be a factor in infertility, including problems with sperm production or the ability of sperm to fertilize an egg.
If you have a chronic illness, or are taking medication that affects fertility, discuss with your doctor about your chances of getting a child.
8. Cancer in the past
Some cancer treatment treatments can cause fertility problems. If you or your partner has had cancer treatment before, especially radiation therapy that is close to the reproductive organs, discuss this with your doctor.
9. History of sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases can cause infertility. Infection and inflammation due to chlamydia or gonorrhea can cause blockage of the fallopian tubes, making pregnancy impossible, or even putting women at risk for ectopic pregnancy.
Because chlamydia or gonorrhea does not cause symptoms in women, it is very important for you to routinely check to see if you have it, so treatment can be done immediately.
10. Smoking or consuming alcohol
Everyone knows that smoking and consuming alcohol is a hard prohibition on health. But, smoking and consuming alcohol while trying to get pregnant is a more serious problem. Smoking causes problems with conception for women, and consuming excessive alcoholic beverages can cause infertility, both for men and women.
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