Top 10 Lessons About Infertility And Artificial Insemination To Learn Before You Hit 30

                                               

What is infertility?

Infertility is described as a condition in which the female partner is unable to conceive even after having regular unprotected intercourse with her male partner for a considerable period of time. In some countries it is referred to as a period of at least 12 months of unprotected sex. Here, unprotected sex means without opting for any contraception means.

Various studies reveal that about half of all the cases of infertility are due to female disorders while at the most 20 percent of all the cases may be attributed to insufficient and unhealthy sperm in male. Remaining 30 percent may be due to a combination of factors both in male and female. 

What is male infertility?

                                               

A man's infertility is mainly due to low quality and insufficient sperm count. If the quantity and quality of the sperm a man ejaculates is low it becomes very difficult even impossible for a woman to conceive. Medical tests are required to ascertain whether a man is infertile because of low quality/quantity of sperm. 

Sperm transport problem is also a major problem to be taken into consideration. About one out of every five infertile men is found to suffer from this. Obstruction in the tubes that leads sperm from the testicles to the penis may render a man to produce semen completely without any sperm. This problem is witnessed in men who underwent Vasectomy Operation in the past and now want more children. 

Reasons for male infertility

• Addition to alcohol, smoking or drugs may significantly reduce sperm production ability of a man and affects the quality of sperm

• Lack of Vitamin C and minerals such as zinc in diet

• Anemia and lack of nutrition

• Use of Anabolic Steroid may lead to testicular shrinkage and infertility

• Rigorous physical activity produces of high level of adrenal steroid hormones and reduces level of testosterone and leads to infertility

• Excessive level of stress, anxiety and sleeplessness

• Use of very tight underwear increases scrotal temperature affecting production of sperm

The above mentioned disorders are not very serious and may be overcome by a change in life style and habits.

Male hormonal disorders

The Hypothalamus-pituitary endocrine system controls hormonal functions that enable testes to produce sperm and properly release the same. The Hypothalamus-pituitary endocrine system may be affected due to:-

• Failure by brain to release gonadotrophic-releasing hormone(GnRH) that boosts hormonal pathway that results in testosterone systhesis and sperm production. Any disorder to release (GnRH) affects the testosterone level and production of sperm.

• Failure by pituitary gland to secrete lutenizing hormone(LH) and follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) required for testosterone and sperm production.

• Failure by leydig cells of testes to produce testosterone in response to (LH) stimulation.

• Production of any other chemical compounds or hormones by a male may interfere and disturb sex hormone balance.

Erection/Ejaculation and other disorders

• Erectile dysfunction(ED)

• Ejaculation incompetence

• Prostate surgery

• Spinal cord injury

• Premature ejaculation

• Damage to nerves

• Side effect of some medicines or steroid

What is female infertility?

                                                 

The most common causes are :-

As we age our fertility also decreases and many problems relating to ovulation may arise. This disorder may be due to :-

• Tumour or cyst in uterus

• Addiction to alcohol or drugs

• Hormonal imbalance

• Thyroid disorder

• Obesity

• Stress, anxiety and depression

• Rigorous physical activities or exercises

• Brief or irregular menstrual cycle

Female infertility may also be due to a damage to the fallopian tubes or uterus. It may be due to :-

• A birth defect

• Pelvic inflammatory disease e.g. an infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes due to STD(sexually transmitted disease)

• Ectopic or tubal pregnancy - a condition when an implanted fertilized egg starts to develop in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus

• Other chronic diseases such as tuberculosis(TB) of the pelvic

Diagnosis

• Urine/Blood test to ascertain hormonal or thyroid disorder or any infection

• Exam of cervical/mucus tissues to check for ovulation disorder

• Exam of the pelvic area

• Check for condition of reproductive organs and blockage/adhesions/scar tissues by inserting laparoscop 

• Ultrasound test to check for condition of uterus and ovaries

• Hysteroscopy - in this type of test a tiny telescope with a fibre light to investigate uterine abnormalities

• HSG - in this test colored liquid is injected into the fallopian tubes, then an x-ray is done to check for blockage

• Sonohystogram - it's a combination of ultrasound and saline injection into the uterus to find out any abnormality

Treatment

• Antibiotics to treat infection

• Hormonal treatment to fix hormonal disorder

• Medications to stimulate normal ovulation

• Following nutritional diet

• Minor surgery may also be required to remove any blockage in the fallopian tubes, uterus or pelvic area

What is artificial insemination?

                                             

Artificial Insemination(AI) involves direct insertion of semen into a woman's womb. This method of fertilization was first tried successfully on livestock. Although, many reasons of infertility are medically treatable, there are some specific circumstances where (AI) becomes necessary :-

• When a woman wants to be a single mother she may go in for AI with a donor's sperm

•  The female is infertile due to 'cervical factor infertility' whereby the cervix cannot produce enough of this mucus or produces mucus containing sperm killing substances

• The male partner is unable to perform sexual intercourse due to impotency(erectile disorder)

• The female becomes allergic to semen when in contact caused by some proteins present in the sperm. (AI) is very effective in these cases as under IUI(intrauterine insemination) method most proteins are removed from sperm before insertion

• The female suffers from 'endometriosis', a condition in which cells from the womb lining start to grow in inappropriate places such as 'ovaries' or 'fallopian tubes' where they should not. Artificial insemination(AI) is very effective in this type of disorder

• The male cannot produce sufficient number of sperm required for fertilization i.e. sperm count is very low in spite of treatment

• The male has become infertile which is 'irreversable' due to some medical treatment e.g. radiotherapy

• The couple belongs to 'same sex group' because same sex marriage has been recognized in many countries today. If two women want to raise a baby, either of them must be artificially inseminated with a donor's sperm

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