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Last posts on private forums:  sare  2008-06-16 09:56:33 matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:59 pieniadz 2008-04-12 20:52:26
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Last posts on private blogs: matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:17 mary 2008-04-12 19:27:47 |
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Lastly added medical terms:
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You are in: Main Page / Medical articles / Gynecology / Female Infertility
Infertility is a common problem that affects both men and women. Female and male infertility is more problematic these days as it occurs in people in younger age than ever before. This article intends to provide information about its symptoms, causes, factors and treatment. You will also read how to test, improve and increase fertility in women and what drugs and herbs may help for human fertility in general.
General information
Infertility is the situation in which a couple could not be pregnant after one year of having regular sexual intercourse, with no birth control methods used, as it is called by doctors.
Each woman is fertile during her ovulation, which usually occurs between 11 or 21 day of a menstrual cycle. Then, a mature egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tubes. It is able to be fertilized for about 12-24 hours from leaving the ovary. Usually, only one egg is released during ovulation. If the egg becomes fertilized it is implemented after 6-12 days after ovulation. An disseminated egg is absorbed by the uterine lining.
You can count your ovulation by starting from the first day of your menstruation cycle, this is called the "fertile time". If you want to get pregnant you should study your menstruation cycles and changes in cervical mucus. It will change into a wet substance then. Observation of your ovulation helps increase the possibility of getting pregnant.
Testing
After a year of unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant both man and woman need to undergo physical and medical check-up. The earlier the tests for female infertility and semen analysis start the better for the couple. It is important to check both partners as in 50% of the cases infertility is caused by semen disorders. The first question you may be asked during the visit is whether you are ovulating or not so careful observation of your cycles is crucial.
Doctors perform the following tests:
Cervical mucus test - it is an examination which tests the interaction between sperm and the mucus. Mucus of lots of women is allergic to male semen. The test is done on one hour fresh semen and the ovulational mucus.
Ultrasound test - it is performed to monitor the ovarian follicle growth, the reaction of endometrium to the follicle growth and to check if the uterus and ovaries are in good condition. It should be done before the ovulation.
Hormone test - this examination is done in order to check the levels of hormones which have significant influence on being able to get pregnant.
Hysterosalpingogram- it is a basic test, radiology procedure in which the injection of dye into the uterus enables to check whether the fallopian tubes are open or blocked and where the blockage is placed. It also shows other problems that may occur in your uterus or fallopian tubes.
Hysteroscopy- a thin hysteroscope is inserted into the uterus to check whether there are any abnormalities, growths or scar tissues in the uterus. Hysteroscope is constructed to have a small camera that can take pictures.
Laparoscopy - the laparoscope is the test in which the telescope is inserted to the uterus through the abdomen so as to check the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries if they don't have any abnormalities, if the endometriosis looks correct.
Endometrial biopsy - biopsy is done in order to check hormonal balance, it can't be done if you are already pregnant. The procedure involves scraping a part of tissue of the endometrium.
Not all these tests are crucial, let your gynecologist decide which suit you best.
Causes
Infertility in men may be caused by a variety of factors, genetic disorders, alcohol or drug overuse (e.g. marijuana smoking lowers the amount and the quality of sperm), injury to the testicles, various illnesses effects and sexually transmitted diseases.
Infertility in women may be caused by:
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - during which a woman's fallopian can be injured or blocked a scar tissue may form in the uterus which may result in abscess creation. It is caused by different viral, bacterial or fungal infection.
Endometriosis - causes pelvis pain and infertility, abnormal tissue grows outside the uterine cavity and affects the nearby organs e.g. ovaries, fallopian tubes.
Toxic effect - drug overuse, tobacco or marijuana smoking. Nicotine changes the cervical mucus and makes it more problematic for sperm to reach an egg.
Excess exercise - although it is very healthy, in high doses it may disrupt the women's ovulation cycle or stops menstrual periods.
Extreme weight loss or gain - all abnormalities connected with weight, obesity, anorexia, bulimia which typical cause damage to the menstrual periods, lack of periods or even miscarriages.
There may be more reasons for infertility to happen to a couple though.
Symptoms& Signs
Infertility may be suspected only when people had tried to get pregnant for a year. This is the only sign of infertility.
Treatment
The treatment can be done with drugs or a surgery that would repair the problems with the female reproductive organs. Artificial insemination is also done in infertility couples. Doctors combine these treatments together to achieve better results. Surgery, for example, is done to remove fibroids or treat endometriosis which make pregnancy impossible. If there is problem with ovaries some drugs are used to treat ovaries disorders.
Drugs
The drugs which are used for female and male infertility treatment include:
Synthetic Human Chorionic Gonadotropin - stimulates ovulation
Clomiphene citrate - improve the quality of eggs
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - stimulates follicle growth
Human Menopausal Gonadotrpins - stimulates production of multiple eggs
Bromocriptine - reduces the amount of prolactin
Cabergoline - reduces the amount of prolactin
Gonadotropin - Realeasing Hormone - stimulates LH and FSK secretion
GnRH Agonist - stimulates production of higher number of quality eggs
GnRH Antagonist - helps to prevent premature ovulation
Medrol - assists egg implantation
Doxycycline - reduces the amount of bacteria in men
Progesterone - creates the appropriate amounts of progesterone
How to increase fertility?
1. Don't smoke or take recreational drugs.
2. Avoid drinking alcohol in larger amounts
3. Exercise regularly
4. Eat healthily
5. Avoid stress
6. Have regular sexual intercourse
Added by:
mary
not connected with health care system
Added on:
2008-04-14 11:54:02 ,
Updated:
2008-04-14 12:04:14
Bibliography:
http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/index.htm
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/infertility/page5_em.htm#Infertility%20Treatment
http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/infertility.htm#k
Speroff, L.; Fritz, M. A. The Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 2004: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
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