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What is infertility?
Infertility means difficulty in becoming pregnant without using contraception.

First you must understand what is needed for becoming pregnant?
1- ovum from the woman to combine with a sperm from the man (ovary capable of ovulation)

2- ovum travels down a fallopian tube to the middle of the uterus (unblocked fallopian tube )

3- sperm in the fallopian tube then combine with (fertilize) the ovum to make an embryo.

4- embryo travels down into the uterus and attaches to the lining of the uterus.
The embryo then grows and matures into a baby (Uterus capable of caring a baby)

What cause fertility problems in female?

Ovulation problems

► Early menopause. ► Polycystic ovary syndrome - which can also cause excess hair growth, acne, menstrual problems and is associated with     obesity. ► Hormone problems. For example, too much prolactin, or too little thyroxine. ► Being very underweight or overweight can affect your hormone balance which can affect ovulation. In particular, women with     anorexia nervosa do not ovulate. ► Excessive exercise such as regular marathon running can affect your hormone balance which can affect ovulation. ► A side-effect from some medicines is a rare cause. Medicines that sometimes cause this are anti-inflammatory painkillers,     some chemotherapy medicines, and cannabis. ► Insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides may be a factor in some cases. ► Various other problems with the ovary such as ovarian cysts and certain genetic problems.

Fallopian tube problems

► Previous infection of the uterus and fallopian tube (pelvic inflammatory disease) is common cause. This can cause scarring     and damage which can affect fertility. For example, scar tissue may block the egg (ovum) from traveling down the fallopian     tubes. ► Previous surgery to the fallopian tubes or uterus can cause scarring and damage. ► Large fibroids or cysts may cause problems.

Uterine problems

► Endometriosis causes about 1 in 20 cases of infertility. Very briefly, tissue that lines the uterus (endometrium) is found     outside of the uterus. It is 'trapped' in the pelvic area and can affect the ovaries, uterus, and nearby structures. It often     causes lower abdominal pain and/or painful periods.

What cause fertility problems in male?
Male problems mainly will be number of sperms or quality of it.
Some men make less sperm than normal (a 'low sperm count') for a variety of reasons which can reduce fertility. These include:
► Certain hormone problems.
► Current or past infection of the testes.
► Tumours of the testes.
► Side-effects of some medicines and drugs.
► Regular excess heat (regular saunas, hot baths, etc) is possibly a cause.
► Environmental factors may be a factor in some men. For example, a lot of exposure to chemicals, x-rays, or heavy metals.
► Varicocele may affect fertility. A varicocele is common and is like a 'varicose vein' in the scrotum (the skin that covers the
    testes).

Advice for couples

Female	Male
• take folic acid each day to reduce the chance of a spinal cord    problem in a baby. • have a blood test to check that you are immune to rubella    (german measles). You will be offered immunisation to    rubella if you are not immune.   • eat a healthy diet.	• Heat and sperm production. It is often advised for men who    have a low sperm count to wear loose fitting underpants and    trousers and to avoid very hot baths, saunas, etc. This allows    your testes to be slightly cooler than the rest of your body,    which is thought to be good for sperm production.
Both
• Smoking can affect fertility in men and women.    It has been estimated that in each menstrual cycle, smokers have about two thirds the chance of conceiving than non-    smokers. Smoking is also harmful to a developing baby if the mother smokes. • Alcohol in excess may affect male fertility. Also, for women expecting to become pregnant, it is advised that you drink no more    than 1 or 2 units of alcohol once or twice a week. (The equivalent to one or two glasses of wine, once or twice a week.) This    is because alcohol may harm a developing baby. The safe level of alcohol for an expectant mother is not clear, so a low    amount, if any, is advised. • Weight control. You have a reduced chance of conceiving if you are very overweight or underweight. For the best chance of    conceiving you should aim to have your body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 30. If appropriate, see you practice nurse to    measure your BMI and for advice over diet and weight control. • Some street drugs can affect fertility and are best avoided.
Related Topics:

► SEDICO products for treatment of infertility: F.S.H & STIMU-MAX
► F.A.Q. about Stimu-Max Tablets
► Follicle Stimulating Hormone

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