HealthyCanada.com

Infertility is a disease of either the male or female reproductive system that prevents conception from occurring despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse for one full year. It affects about 330000 Canadian couples each year. In a broader sense infertility also includes the ability to conceive but the inability to carry a baby to full term. In Canada 8% of couples experience infertility. Approximately 60% of couples who do not use contraception and have regular intercourse will conceive in 6 months 80% within 12 months and 90% in 18 months.

Most men who are infertile have no symptoms.

Infertility in women may be indicated by irregular menstrual periods or pain during menstruation or intercourse. Some diseases such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) sexually transmitted infections or endometriosis have various symptoms and can all affect fertility.

Infertility can also produce significant emotional upheaval for couples including anxiety depression and feelings of loss.

It is a myth that infertility is always a "woman's problem." In actual fact one third of infertility cases are due to male factors and one third are due to female factors. About 20% of the time there are fertility problems with both the man and the woman. In some other cases the cause cannot be determined.

Infertility in men can be a result of problems with making sperm or getting the sperm to reach the egg. Problems with sperm may exist from birth or develop later in life due to illness injury lifestyle or environmental toxins.

Infertility in women is most often the result of problems with ovulation that may be caused by a hormonal imbalance. Without ovulation there are no eggs to be fertilized. Age is also a factor as a woman's ovaries generally produce fewer eggs after the age of 35. After the age of 35 a woman's ability to get pregnant does begin to dwindle. However even though pregnancy rates do drop most women are able to conceive.Certain conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis may block a woman's fallopian tubes preventing eggs from getting to the uterus.

Treatment for infertility depends on the cause. Various fertility drugs are available to women with ovulation problems. However there is always a possibility of multiple births. If needed surgery can repair damage to a woman's ovaries fallopian tubes or uterus. Sometimes a man has an infertility problem that can be corrected by hormone therapy or surgery.

If drugs or surgery are not successful a couple may consider assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as In vitro fertilization. This is often recommended when a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked or when a man has a low sperm count. In this procedure a drug is used to induce the simultaneous release of eggs from the female's ovaries. The eggs are then retrieved surgically and combined with the male partner's sperm in a laboratory. After fertilization occurs cell division is allowed to take place up to the embryo stage. Several of the embryos are then transferred to the woman's uterus in the hope that at least one will implant and result in pregnancy.

Counseling is also available for couples struggling with their feelings about their infertility. You can also find support groups in most communities.

Infertility Awareness Association of Canada