Infertility is the term health care providers use for women who are unable to get pregnant, and for men who are unable to impregnate a woman, after at least one year of trying.

In women, the term is used to describe those who are of normal childbearing age, not those who can't get pregnant because they are near or past menopause.

Women who are able to get pregnant but who cannot carry a pregnancy to term (birth) may also be considered infertile.

What causes infertility?

Infertility does not have a single cause because successful pregnancy is a multi-step chain of events.

Simply described, pregnancy includes the following steps: A woman's ovaries must be able to release a viable egg, which then must be able to travel down the fallopian tube. The man must be able to ejaculate, and his sperm must be able to travel to the fallopian tube. The sperm and egg must unite to fertilize the egg. The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of a receptive uterus (or implant) and be nurtured by the body to allow the fetus to develop and grow until it is ready for birth.

Problems with any of these steps can lead to infertility.

The cause of infertility can rest in the woman or the man, or can be from unknown factors or a combination of factors. In some cases, environmental factors can contribute to infertility. In other cases, genetic conditions or other health problems are the main cause of infertility.

Finding out that they cannot produce children is a huge blow to any couple. This revelation often leaves the couple confused and hurt, especially when both are in that stage of their lives where they are ready to have children.

There are many reasons why a person becomes unable to have a child. Although to some couples, it may seem more important to know what measures they can take to overcome this difficulty, it is also important to know the reasons why they cannot have a child using natural methods, since this is one factor which can affect the nature of the fertility treatment which may be suitable for them.

In some infertile men, some conditions may lead to abnormal sperm production or the production of sperm with abnormal structure. Low sperm production has been associated with wearing pants that are too tight at the crotch, since this places the testicles closer to the body, where the temperature is higher. Normally the testicles are kept at a lower temperature than the rest of the body for the sperm to survive.

Some genetic defects like Klinefelter‚Äôs syndrome may cause retarded testicle growth, which in turn leads to low sperm production or cause the production of sperm with abnormal shapes and structure. Abnormally-shaped sperm often cannot function well to successfully reach and penetrate the woman‚Äôs egg. Infection is also another cause of impaired sperm motility.

In women, the most common causes of infertility are structural defects, which could be the result of scarring from previous infections, abortions, or surgeries, inflammation of the uterine lining, benign uterine fibroids and pelvic adhesions. Other causes are advanced maternal age, where there is reduced egg production and ovulation disorders. Ovulation disorders are often shown in low levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone and may be caused by trauma, tumors, excessive exercise and starvation.

Too much of the hormone called prolactin may also affect ovulation. Prolactin is the hormone normally present in pregnant and lactating women. High levels of prolactin may be caused by tumors in the brain or by certain drugs.

Stress may also be a factor in infertility. Studies have shown that stress can alter a woman‚Äôs hormone levels. It has also been shown to be linked to low sperm counts in men.

Most of these problems can be solved with medical treatment, lifestyle changes, surgery or assisted reproductive therapy. Couples who have been trying to conceive for a year or more without any results are often advised to have themselves assessed for any fertility problems so that diagnosis and treatments can be promptly done.

Infertility is usually the diagnosis when a couple is unable to conceive after a year of trying through natural means. This includes women who are able to get pregnant but have not carried a fetus successfully to term due to repeated miscarriages. Infertility is not only a woman’s problem, although in 1/3 of cases the problem lies with the woman. In the other 1/3 of cases the problem lies in the male partner, often shown in low sperm count, poor or defective sperm, erectile dysfunction, and structural problems in the reproductive organs which can block the passage of sperm.

There are many factors which can affect the fertility of a man or woman. In men, the most common factors linked to infertility include

Smoking
Drinking coffee
Wearing too-tight shorts or pants
Drug use
Radiation therapy
Exposure to environmental pollutants and toxins
diabetes mellitus and adrenal disease

In women, the most common causes for infertility are problems in ovulation, which shows itself in absent or very irregular menstrual periods. Other causes include

Structural deformities like blocked tubes due to scarring, inflammation, or a congenital defect
Uterine fibroids
Adhesions
A very acidic vaginal environment which is not suitable for sperm survival

Other factors which can further lower a woman’s chances of getting pregnant may include age, stress levels, extreme exercise, poor nutrition, smoking, STDs, previous miscarriages, and health problems which can affect the body’s hormone levels. Age is the greatest contributing factor, since the quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs starts to decline once she goes beyond her peak fertile years which is around 23 to 25 years old.

Fortunately, infertility can be treated. In women with ovulation problems one form of treatment is the use of drugs to stimulate ovulation like Clomid, Pergonal, or Repronex. Assisted Reproductive technology is also available for many couples who are struggling with infertility. Procedures like in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and gamete intrafallopian transfer can help couples conceive successfully by the use of their own sperm and eggs or using those of a donor.