Infertility is a condition when you are not able to get pregnant even after a year of trying to conceive. Pregnancy can only occur during unprotected sexual intercourse. It is important that a woman’s body has a mature egg and a man’s body is making enough healthy sperm.
During sexual intercourse, the male partner transfers sperm into the female’s vagina. When the sperm meets the egg, they join together, and this forms a fertilized egg. This fertilized egg then travels down into the woman’s uterus and attaches to the lining. Over time, it grows into a baby. Now, if any of these requirements are not met, pregnancy cannot occur.
There can be many causes of infertility and the problem could be with either or both partners. Causes can include problems with egg production in females, blockages, and endometriosis (disease of the uterus). Male-related problems could be low sperm count or low testosterone (sex hormone). There can be issues common to all genders like hormonal imbalances, lifestyle factors such as stress or excessive alcohol consumption, and certain medical conditions or treatments like chemotherapy.
The risk of infertility increases with age. There could also be genetic factors involved.
Infertility can be a cause of distress for couples. Fortunately, there are many treatments available depending on the underlying cause of infertility. First, doctors figure out what is causing the infertility. This might involve tests for both partners to check their reproductive health. After the cause of infertility is established, the course of treatment begins.
Medication: Sometimes, people can boost their fertility with drugs that help them ovulate (release eggs) more regularly or improve sperm production.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): If medication alone does not work, there are more advanced options. The most common one is in vitro fertilization (IVF). It involves combining sperm and eggs outside the body in a lab dish and then placing the embryo(s) into the uterus. The rest of the pregnancy is like a normal pregnancy.
Surgery: In some cases, surgery might be needed to fix physical problems that are causing infertility, like blocked fallopian tubes or varicoceles (enlarged veins in the testicles).
Lifestyle Changes: Simple changes like maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and reducing stress can sometimes improve fertility.
According to research ayurvedic treatment has been successful in managing infertility. However, in case of more complicated issues, donor sperm, donor eggs, and surrogacy options can be explored.
Dealing with infertility can often take a toll on your emotional health. Counseling and support groups are often part of the treatment plan.