Posts Tagged ‘female infertility’
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
You want to go to a reproductive health specialist and discuss fertility problems you and your partner have had. But whenever you bring up the subject, he becomes defensive and refuses to attend even an exploratory meeting with a physician… let alone hear you out.
What gives?
For many men, especially those who were raised in families where infertility and reproductive health were “verboten” issues, discussing topics like this can be extremely difficult. And for other men, there can be an overwhelming fear that they might be facing male infertility.
What many men simply don’t realize is that male infertility is quite common. In fact, just as many fertility problems can be caused by male infertility factors as female infertility factors! But that can be little relief for the wife or partner of the man who won’t even discuss going to a doctor.
If you’re with someone who finds the male infertility discussion difficult, there are a few routes you can take.
First, you can make an appointment on your own to see a reproductive health specialist who can assist you in getting some information.
Next, you can get in touch with a counselor who might be able to give you advice on broaching the subject of male infertility.
Finally, you may just have to be patient but direct. If you both want children and you haven’t conceived naturally (though you’ve been having sexual intercourse regularly and without protection) in a 6-12 month period, there’s something amiss. That could be the bare fact that gets him to attend an appointment in the hopes of getting one step closer to a solution.
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: Appointment, Counselor, female infertility, Fertility Problems, Having Sexual Intercourse, Health Specialist, Infertility, Male Infertility, Many Men, Overwhelming Fear, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Science Insitiute, Rsi
Posted in Male Infertility | No Comments »
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Ever wonder what causes or contributes to a woman or man’s infertility? Our 3-part series takes a brief look at 25 factors that can result in infertility for males and females.
- 16. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – According to the Centers for Disease Control, PID is an “infection of the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus) and other reproductive organs that causes symptoms such as lower abdominal pain”. PID is a symptom of an STD and is often a cause of ectopic pregnancies.
- 17. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – PCOS is a common hormonal disorder affecting women. A female with PCOS typically has enlarged ovaries that contain many cysts. Infertility and PCOS often go hand-in-hand.
- 18. Scarred Ovaries – If a female’s ovaries have become scarred due to surgeries, infections or other problems/conditions, the ovaries may not function properly.
- 19. STDs – Many STDs (like Chlamydia) essentially “steal” fertility. However, a good amount of adults do not realize they carry STDs. This is one of the reasons reproductive health physicians will frequently test both partners for STDs at the beginning of their fertility journey.
- 20. Stress – Though stress might not last forever, it can be a contributor to infertility. Because the body often “shuts down” unneeded systems during stress, males and females can find themselves unable to have children when going through times of great, prolonged anxiety.
- 21. Thyroid Problems – The thyroid gland helps regulate hormones; consequently, an undiagnosed thyroid problem can be to blame for infertility in women.
- 22. Toxins and Poisons – It’s long been known that there are several toxins and poisons that create conditions for infertility. Some items to watch out for include lead, mercury and certain plastics/polymers.
- 23. Treatments for Cancer – Radiation and chemotherapy can leave men and women infertile. That’s why some females (even those who do not desire to have a child in the near future) choose to have their eggs removed and cryo-preserved in the hopes that they can be fertilized later.
- 24. Uterine Fibroids – Fibroids are small “lumps” that develop inside the uterus. Though benign, they can make the uterine environment a place where conception cannot easily take place without intervention.
- 25. Vaginal Lubricants – Certain vaginal lubricants may contain spermicides or ingredients that can contribute to infertility.
Is Fertility Treatment Right For You?
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: Cancer Chemotherapy, Centers For Disease Control, Chlamydia, Common Hormonal Disorder, Control Pid, Dr. Munabi, Ectopic Pregnancies, Enlarged Ovaries, female infertility, Infection Of The Uterus, Infertility, Infertility In Women, Lower Abdominal Pain, Male Infertility, Males And Females, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Reproductive Organs, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, STDs, Thyroid Gland, Thyroid Problem, Thyroid Problems
Posted in Infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
Ever wonder what causes or contributes to a woman or man’s infertility? Our 3-part series takes a brief look at 25 factors that can result in infertility for males and females.
- 8. Dietary and Weight Issues – Obesity and malnutrition are serious contributors to infertility. Any adult above or below normal BMI levels may find him- or herself unable to have a child without assistance from a reproductive health specialist.
- 9. Endometriosis – Not only is endometriosis a painful condition experienced by hundreds of thousands of women, but it’s also one of the leading causes of infertility. Ironically, many women with endometriosis do not realize they have the condition (despite the pain/discomfort associated with it) until they experience fertility problems.
- 10. Genetic Conditions – Carrying an extra X or Y chromosome can lead to infertility in both men and women.
- 11. “Hostile” Cervical Mucus – A woman’s cervical mucus may actually be considered “hostile” to the sperm of her partner. Essentially, this means the mucus does not allow fertility to take place because it sees the sperm as an invader. There are numerous treatments to handle this type of situation.
- 12. Low Sperm Count and/or Motility – If a male’s sperm count is too low OR if his sperm do not have the power to get to the egg, infertility will likely result.
- 13. Medical Conditions – Some medical conditions such as diabetes and Crohn’s disease are contributing factors to infertility in both males and females.
- 14. Medications – Some medications may inhibit fertility in those taking them; therefore, it’s critical to always understand possible side effects when trying to have a child.
- 15. Ovulation Disorders – Ovulation is critical to fertility. If a woman’s body is not ovulating on a regular basis, there will either be a) no egg for the sperm to fertilize or b) an egg available for fertilization only some of the time. Fortunately, there are prescription medications like Clomid that can help women ovulate.
Find out if Fertility Treatment is Right for You!
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: Causes Of Infertility, Crohn S Disease, Dr. Munabi, Endometriosis, female infertility, Fertility Problems, Fertilization, Genetic Conditions, Health Specialist, Hostile Cervical Mucus, Infertility, Low Sperm Count, Male Infertility, Male Sperm, Males And Females, Malnutrition, Ovulation Disorders, Pain Discomfort, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Sperm Motility, Y Chromosome
Posted in Infertility | No Comments »
Monday, March 21st, 2011
Ever wonder what causes or contributes to a woman or man’s infertility? Our 3-part series takes a brief look at 25 factors that can result in infertility for males and females.
- Adhesions – Adhesions inside a female’s body may be the result of surgery or may occur naturally. When adhesions are present, the body cannot function at full capacity. In the case of infertility, adhesions may prohibit the sperm from fertilizing the egg, create issues in the fallopian tubes or hinder fertilization in other ways.
- Age – After 35, a woman is much more likely to struggle with fertility issues. In fact, some women lose their fertility levels in their early 30s. And most women in their early 40s will find it very difficult to conceive naturally without medical intervention.
- Behavioral Factors – For both men and women, behavioral factors such as smoking cigarettes, cigars and marijuana; drinking excessive amounts of alcohol; and taking prescription or illegal drugs can contribute to infertility.
- Blocked Fallopian Tubes – If a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked, a necessary part of conception cannot occur.
- Cancer – There are many types of cancer in both males and females that can contribute to infertility, including colon cancer, testicular cancer, uterine cancer, stomach cancer and cervical cancer, among others. Even if the cancer is successfully defeated, fertility may be compromised or destroyed.
- Congenital Abnormalities – Some individuals are born with congenital abnormalities which limit or prohibit fertility. Often, these people do not realize they have these issues until they try to have a child.
- Damage to the Male Genitals – The male genitalia includes many parts and if any are significantly injured, infertility can result. The good news is that some injuries can be reversed and only temporarily affect fertility.
Find out if Fertility Treatment is Right for You!
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: Behavioral Factors, Cancer Testicular, Cervical Cancer, Colon Cancer, Congenital Abnormalities, Fallopian Tubes, female infertility, Fertility Issues, Fertility Levels, Fertility Treatment, Illegal Drugs, Male Genitalia, Male Genitals, Males And Females, medical intervention, Smoking Cigarettes, Stomach Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Types Of Cancer, Uterine Cancer
Posted in Infertility | No Comments »
Friday, February 25th, 2011
It is understandable that individuals who fought cancer and are in remission want to go on and lead their normal lives. For those in the childbearing years, this could very likely include starting a family at some point. Unfortunately, though, the odds are high for female infertility in individuals who have undergone chemotherapy. Why do we only mention women, you may ask. Because women are born with their ovaries containing all the eggs they will ever have in their lives, where as men’s sperm is continually replenished throughout their reproductive lives. Thus, chemotherapy is much more likely to spread to and effect a woman’s ovaries than to have a long-lasting effect on a man’s sperm.
Luckily, there are so many options for a woman who wants to have children these days. If you have not yet undergone chemotherapy, but know that you will, talk to your doctor about the state of your health and whether a procedure of removing some of your eggs to have them frozen for future use would be something you could withstand prior to your chemotherapy treatments. If not, or if you have already undergone chemotherapy and now find that you are facing infertility, there are still plenty of options for you! You could look into egg donation and IVF or perhaps surrogacy. A study is also currently in the works in Melbourne, Australia, testing the effectiveness of goserelin in protecting the ovaries of the women to whom it has been administered prior to their chemotherapy treatments. Please feel free to contact us at RSI for a consultation or if you have any questions.
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: Cancer, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Treatments, Childbearing Years, Consultation, Egg Donation, Eggs, female infertility, Goserelin, health, Infertility, IVF, Lead, Melbourne Australia, Odds, Ovaries, Reproductive Science, Rsi, sperm, surrogacy
Posted in Cancer, Infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
While reading up on fertility issues, causes of infertility and female infertility, you may have come across the topic of hostile cervical mucus or you may have even been told by a doctor that you have hostile cervical mucus yourself. But what does that mean and how does it play a role in infertility?
Cervical mucus is crucial in guiding sperm into the uterus where it will meet the egg for fertilization. It protects sperm from the typically acidic environment of the vagina, as well as being able to determine and slow sperm that are abnormal and keep them from reaching the egg. If cervical mucus not the right consistency or completely lacking then any sperm entering the vagina will not have the right environment to help it get to the uterus and reaching its ultimate destination of fertilizing an egg. It’s normal for cervical mucus to change in consistency throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, but in a typical cycle the cervical mucus will reach an ideal state around the middle of the cycle, when ovulation occurs. Cervical mucus can be considered hostile due to: ineffective or low levels of estrogen, presence of anti-sperm antibodies, thick and sticky consistency and in some cases it has occurred in women who are taking Clomid.
The positive in all of this is that hostile cervical mucus is a condition that can fairly easily be corrected by your fertility doctor. Set up a consultation today!
Follow RSI on Twitter!
Tags: Acidic Environment, Causes Of Infertility, Clomid, Consistency, Consultation, Egg, Entering The Vagina, female infertility, Fertility Doctor, Fertility Issues, Fertilization, Hostile Cervical Mucus, Infertility, Low Estrogen, Low Levels Of Estrogen, Menstrual Cycle, Ovulation, Sperm Antibodies, Typical Cycle, Uterus
Posted in Hostile Cervical Mucus | No Comments »
Sunday, June 20th, 2010
“Of course HE can become a dad at any age! But for a woman, it’s different!”
How many times have we heard that phrase repeated by people who are discussing the whole parenting issue of males versus females? But it perpetuates a myth that male fertility is something that doesn’t change over time and isn’t a concern.
The truth of the matter is that between 30-40% of all fertility problems in couples is due to male infertility, not female infertility. It’s a fact that surprises a lot of men… and women.
The next time you hear someone talking about the notion that men are somehow immune to fertility issues, you might want to interject the aforementioned statistic. Hopefully, that will help educate people into realizing that fertility isn’t a one-gender concern.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: Couples, Dad, female infertility, Females, Fertility Issues, Fertility Problems, Infertility, Lot, Male Fertility, Male Infertility, Men And Women, Men Women, Miracles, Myth, Notion, Parenting Issue, Phrase, Statistic, Surprises, Truth Of The Matter
Posted in Male Infertility | No Comments »
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Too often, people tend to think of infertility as being a female issue. Though this is probably due to the fact that women are the ones carrying the children, there’s as much of a likelihood that a couple’s inability to conceive is a male problem as that it is a female one.
Statistics vary on how often couples’ conception problems are related to female issues as opposed to males — some sources say a third of fertility problems is due to the female’s infertility, a third is due to the male’s infertility and a third is due to unknown circumstances. Other sources have the figures at 40%, 40% and 20%. But the crux of the studies show that men have just as much chance of having infertility issues as do women.
It’s time to stop thinking of infertility as something that’s primarily related to women. Truly, it’s a condition that’s “equal opportunity”.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: female infertility, Fertility Problems, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Male Infertility, Rsi, Statistics, Woman Issue
Posted in female infertility, Male Infertility | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
The phrase “420 friendly” is often used to denote people and websites that are open to the casual use of marijuana (cannabis). However, for those couples trying to conceive, it’s a good idea to halt any drug use, including that of marijuana.
Many studies have made a connection between marijuana use and subsequent male and female infertility issues. Although some pro-marijuana groups feel that the evidence should be challenged, the medical community generally feels that results of studies are strong enough to support the notion that anyone who wants to have a child should halt all use of marijuana.
RSI… helping miracles happen.
Join RSI on Twitter.
Tags: 420 friendly, cannabis, Couples, couples trying to conceive, Drug Use, female infertility, Fertility, Groups, Infertility, Infertility Issues, Male Infertility, marijuana, Marijuana Cannabis, Marijuana Studies, Medical Community, Miracles, Notion, People, Phrase, Pro Marijuana, Rsi, Trying To Conceive, Use Of Marijuana
Posted in Drug Use | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
Scientists believe that smoking may impair fertility by as much as 30%.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, nicotine and other toxic chemicals in cigarettes impede fertility by interfering with the body’s ability to make estrogen, a hormone integral to regular ovulation, and can make women’s eggs more vulnerable to genetic abnormalities.
Fertility.com lists some of the ways smoking can undermine female fertility:
- Restricted blood flow to the genitals, contributing to vaginal dryness and other sexual problems.
- Decreased egg counts due to destruction of eggs in the ovaries before the eggs reach maturity.
- Alterations in the release of hormones.
- Decreased fallopian tube motility and tubal disease.
- Decreased ability of an embryo to implant.
Women who want to be as healthy as possible while trying to conceive should stop smoking immediately. Support Groups, Hypnotherapy, Acupuncture, Nicotine Patches and Chewing Gum are all popular methods for kicking the smoking habit.
Like what you read? Digg, Stumble or Tweet this post!
Want to be the first to see RSI’s newest posts? Join RSI’s RSS feed now.
Tags: American Society For Reproductive Medicine, Blood Flow, Chemicals In Cigarettes, Chewing Gum, Estrogen, Fall Newsletter, Fallopian Tube, Female Fertility, female infertility, Genetic Abnormalities, Genitals, Motility, Nicotine, Nicotine Gum, Nicotine Patches, Ovaries, Ovulation, Sexual Problems, Smoking Habit, Toxic Chemicals In Cigarettes, Vaginal Dryness
Posted in female infertility | 1 Comment »
