When you’re struggling with infertility, there isn’t always a quick or easy answer as to why. Infertility is a common problem, affecting one-sixth of reproductive age people worldwide. Because many factors can be at play, we can’t tell you what’s causing your infertility in a blog post (that requires an appointment and testing by Dr. Sanaz Ghazal), but we can talk about some of the most common causes of infertility.
Age
Age plays a big role in infertility for both men and women. Sperm and egg quality decrease as you age, and hormone levels change. And because women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have and lose a significant number each month, the risk of infertility increases with age, especially after 35.
Hormonal Imbalances
Our bodies depend on hormones for many functions, including fertility. When any of your reproductive hormones are out of balance, it can lead to infertility. Hormonal imbalances can cause problems with insulin and can also impact your fertility, which is why hormone levels are one of the first things we check when you become a patient at RISE.
Ovulatory Disorders
It’s impossible to become pregnant naturally if you don’t ovulate or don’t ovulate properly. Many conditions can cause problems with ovulation, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), primary ovarian insufficiency, insulin resistance and obesity.
Blocked Fallopian Tubes
Blocked fallopian tubes sometimes cause infertility by preventing the egg from reaching the uterus. Fallopian tubes can become blocked because of scar tissue, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), fibroids, and other conditions.
Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids are benign growths in the uterus, which nevertheless commonly cause infertility by blocking the fallopian tubes or interfering with embryo implantation. Uterine fibroids affect many women and can be found using ultrasounds and other tests.
Endometriosis
With endometriosis, tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, and can affect the function of your ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes. Endometriosis can also affect your menstrual cycle, and should always be considered when investigating infertility, especially if you experience irregular or heavy periods and pelvic pain.
Pelvic Adhesions
Pelvic adhesions occur when scar tissue connects organs together or connects organs to your abdominal wall. Pelvic adhesions can happen after infections or surgery, and may also be caused by appendicitis and endometriosis. In many cases, pelvic adhesions interfere with the way your reproductive organs function, block fallopian tubes, prevent embryo implantation, and even restrict blood flow to your organs.
Structural Problems
Some people are born with problems that impact their fertility. For example, a woman may be born with a septate uterus, or a man may have a birth defect that blocks the flow of semen, or develop varicocele that impacts fertility. Fortunately, these types of problems can often be corrected with surgery.
Genetic Disorders
Chromosomal disorders and conditions like cystic fibrosis frequently cause infertility. While these conditions can’t be cured, it’s possible for a doctor to evaluate your fertility and conduct genetic testing to select healthy embryos for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Problems With Sperm
In order to conceive naturally, you must have an adequate number of healthy sperm in your semen, and they must be able to move properly. A simple semen analysis will give Dr. Ghazal information about your sperm health, and intrauterine insemination (IUI) and IVF may help you conceive.
Erectile Dysfunction and Problems Ejaculating
Many men have problems sustaining an erection, or experience premature or retrograde ejaculation, conditions that can all cause infertility.
Injuries and Infections
Both injuries to the reproductive organs and infections, such as STIs, can cause infertility. Dr. Ghazal will discuss treatments for injuries or infections to reduce your risk of infertility.
Some Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, are linked to infertility. And because exposure to chemotherapy or radiation can damage your reproductive organs, eggs, and sperm, it’s best to discuss options to preserve your fertility before undergoing cancer treatment.
Certain Medicines
Certain medicines, like some antibiotics, medicines to treat depression, and high blood pressure medicines may impact your fertility. In some cases, you may be prescribed different medications to help you overcome infertility.
Environmental Factors
It’s not news that smoking and drinking too much alcohol can cause infertility, but you may not know that chemicals, pesticides, pollution, heavy metals, and endocrine disruptors in household products can also cause infertility. For men, exposing the testicles to high temperatures, such as in a sauna, can harm sperm production and cause infertility.
Unknown Factors
Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to determine what causes infertility, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you. At RISE fertility, we offer many treatment options to help couples conceive, even when the underlying cause of their fertility remains unknown.
Rising Above Infertility
At RISE Fertility, we pride ourselves on taking the time to get to know our patients, conduct thorough fertility testing, and offer the latest fertility treatments in a concierge setting. If you’re experiencing infertility, we encourage you to book a consult with Dr. Ghazal to begin the process of learning what’s causing your infertility and how we can help you overcome it.
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