Infertility

Infertility

Infertility is the inability to conceive, or to carry a pregnancy to term, even after a period of unprotected sexual cohabitation. It can originate on either side of a couple: a man may be unable to produce sperm in sufficient number or quality to achieve fertilization, or a woman may be unable to become pregnant or sustain a pregnancy once it starts.

The causes span several categories. Structural and hormonal causes include tumours in the pituitary or reproductive organs, inherited mutations affecting sex-hormone biosynthesis, and malformation of the cervix or fallopian tubes. Nutritional and lifestyle causes include inadequate nutrition before adulthood, long-term stress (which disrupts the menstrual cycle), and exposure to toxins such as the heavy metal cadmium, along with heavy alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use. Physical causes include injury to the gonads and simple ageing. …