Trying to Conceive (cont.)
Health Problems
Couples also can have fertility problems
because of health problems, in either the woman or the man. Common problems with
a woman's reproductive organs, like uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and pelvic
inflammatory disease can worsen with age and also affect fertility. These
conditions might cause the fallopian tubes to be blocked, so the egg can't
travel through the tubes into the uterus.
Some people also have diseases or conditions that affect
their hormone levels, which can cause infertility in women and impotence and infertility
in men. Polycystic Ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one such hormonal
condition that
affects many women, and is the most common cause of anovulation, or when a woman
rarely or never ovulates. Another hormonal condition that is a common cause of
infertility is when a woman has a luteal phase defect (LPD). A luteal phase is
the time in the menstrual cycle between ovulation and the start of the next
menstrual period. LPD is a failure of the uterine lining to be fully prepared
for a fertilized egg to implant there. This happens either because a woman's
body is not producing enough progesterone, or the uterine lining isn't
responding to progesterone levels at some point in the menstrual cycle. Since
pregnancy depends on a fertilized egg implanting in the uterine lining, LPD can
interfere with a woman getting pregnant and with carrying a pregnancy
successfully.
Certain lifestyle choices also can have a negative effect on a woman's
fertility, such as smoking, alcohol use, weighing much more or much less than an
ideal body weight, a lot of strenuous exercise, and having an eating disorder.
Unlike women, some men remain fertile into their 60s and
70s. But as men age, they might begin to have problems with the shape and
movement of their sperm, and have a slightly higher risk of sperm gene defects.
They also might produce no sperm, or too few sperm. Lifestyle choices also can
affect the number and quality of a man's sperm. Alcohol and drugs can
temporarily reduce sperm quality. And researchers are looking at whether
environmental toxins, such as pesticides and lead, also may be to blame for some
cases of infertility. Men also can have health problems that affect their sexual
and reproductive function. These can include sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs), diabetes,
surgery on the prostate gland, or a
severe testicle injury or problem.
If you or your partner has a problem with sexual function or libido, don't
delay seeing your doctor for help.
Next: Treating infertility »
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