Infertility

Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after one year of unprotected and regular intercourse. Women aged over 35 are advised to consult a healthcare provider after six months of unsuccessful attempts to conceive.

Causes

Infertility can affect men, women, or both. Here are some examples of factors that can influence the fertility of both men and women:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Certain pharmacological treatments
• Hormonal imbalance
• Excess or insufficient weight
• Alcohol, tobacco, or drug use
• Advanced age (over 35 for women, over 40-45 for men)

In men, infertility is linked, among other things, to sperm count and motility. This can be caused by the factors mentioned above, but also by the following:

• Obstruction in the male reproductive tract
• Absence of the vas deferens (the ducts between the testes and the urethra)
• Exposure to toxins or radiation

In women, the following situations may also be present:

• Problem related to ovulation
• Problem related to the structure of the uterus
• Blockage of the Fallopian tubes
• Endometriosis (tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus growing outside of it)

Treatment

Several treatment options are available and depend on what is causing infertility.

• Pharmacological stimulation of eggs production or sperm count
• Intrauterine insemination, which involves placing selected sperm directly into the uterus
• In vitro fertilization (IVF), in which the egg is fertilized in culture before being implanted in the uterus
• Use of donor eggs or sperm
• Surgery

For more information:

• Pregnancyinfo.ca by The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)