Causes of Infertility
Infertility can be caused by many different things. The causes of infertility can involve one or both partners.
Female infertility causes
- Ovulation problems – You have an ovulation disorder if you ovulate infrequently or not at all.
- Damage to fallopian tubes – Damage can be caused by inflammation of the fallopian tubes, previous ectopic pregnancy or previous surgery in the abdomen or pelvis
- Uterine factors – abnormally shaped (bicornuate) uterus and Benign polyps or tumors in the uterus can cause infertility
- Endometriosis – it is a condition where small pieces of the womb lining, known as the endometrium, start growing in other places, such as the ovaries and cause infertility.
- Poor egg quality – Eggs that become damaged or develop chromosomal abnormalities cannot sustain a pregnancy.
- Cervical narrowing or blockage – It is caused by an inherited malformation or damage to the cervix. It prevents any sperm from reaching the egg.
- Medicines and drugs – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Neuroleptic medicines and chemotherapy may cause infertility
Male infertility causes
- Male tube blockages – Varicoceles (varicose veins) in the testicles are the most common cause of male tube blockages.
- Sperm duct defects – The tubes that carry sperm (sperm ducts) can be damaged by illness or injury
- Hypogonadism – It is an abnormally low level of testosterone, the male sex hormone that is involved in making sperm.
- Damaging of testicles – damaged testicles can affect the quality of your semen and cause infertility.
- Ejaculation disorders – Some men experience ejaculation problems that can make it difficult for them to ejaculate and in turn cause infertility
- Medicines and drugs – an anti-inflammatory medicine used to treat conditions such as Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis and medicines used in Chemotherapy reduce sperm production.
- Celiac disease – A digestive disorder caused by sensitivity to gluten, celiac disease can cause male infertility.
- Drinking too much alcohol – Drinking too much alcohol can damage the quality of your sperm.
Common Cause of Infertility in both men and women
- Being overweight, or obese
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Severe stress
- Exposure to certain pesticides, metals, and solvents
- Smoking can also adversely affect fertility
Unexplained causes
The term unexplained cause is used when doctors can’t find a cause for infertility after a full series of tests and assessments. Some experts think being significantly over- or underweight, exercising excessively and even environmental toxins may be contributing factors but no direct links have been confirmed.