A Closer Look at Infertility

July 22,2020
5 Min Read

Infertility is a disorder of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.

Nearly 30 million couples in India suffer from infertility.

Top causes of Infertility in men:

A history of having mumps
Testicular injury
Exposure to chemicals or toxins
Acute illness or prolonged fever
Drugs (marijuana, opiods, cimetidine, corticosteroids, methotrexate, antineoplastics drugs) or alcohol use
Use of anabolic steroids
Undescended testis
Hormonal imbalance
Klinefelter Syndrome

Top causes of infertility in women:

Blocked fallopian tubes due to sexually transmitted diseases
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which can interfere with ova release
Uterine fibroids
Endometriosis
Autoimmune disorders, which produce antibodies against fetal tissues
Diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Fluctuating or diminished hormone levels
Eating disorders
Obesity – increased Body Mass Index (BMI) has been associated with infertility and morbidity during pregnancy
Gluten intolerance (celiac disease)

Other leading factors of infertility that are common for both men and women:

Stress
Multiple Partners
Toxicity of Food
Drug use
Excessive Alcohol Drinking
Smoking or Delayed Marriage

Couples should undergo fertility testing as 30% of the time males are the sole cause of fertility problems.

WHAT ARE INFERTILITY TESTS?

Infertility tests are done to help find out why a woman cannot become pregnant. The tests help find whether the problem is with the man, the woman, or both. Tests usually include a physical exam, semen analysis, blood tests, and special procedures.

Fertility tests for women

Pelvic Ultrasound to discover abnormalities with the uterus, fallopian tubes and/or ovaries. Sonography can show evidence of pelvic scarring
PAP Smear Test
Rubella Antibody Test
Test for Chlamydia trachomatis
Test for Chlamydia trachomatis
Blood test includes day 3
FHS, LH, Prolactin
Progesterone
Testosterone (Free and Total)
Estradiol
Anti-Mullerian Hormone
Free T3, free T4, and TSH
DHEA-S
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) that evaluates the condition of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
Further specialized tests like:
TORCH 8
TB Culture
GeneXpert TB test
Genetic testing (Chromosomal Karyotype)
Procedures such as endometrial biopsy, laparoscopy and hysteroscopy

Fertility tests for men

Semen analysis to check for abnormalities in the number of sperms (concentration), motility (movement) and morphology (shape)
Test for Chlamydia trachomatis which, in addition to being a known cause of infertility in women, can also affect sperm function
Blood Tests include:
Follicle stimulating Hormone (FHS)
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Prolactin
Testosterone (Free and Total)
Estradiol and SHBG
Transrectal and Scrotal Ultrasound is done to look for evidence of conditions such as retrograde ejaculation and ejaculatory duct obstruction

Depending on your history and test results, further specialized tests are recommended in certain cases like GeneXpert TB test, Genetic testing (Chromosomal Karyotype), AFB culture, Testicular biopsy (to tell if sperms production is normal)

Increase your chances of getting pregnant by: