No one in the family suffers alone from infertility. Both partners are influenced, though society tends to see it mostly as the woman’s issue. For us at Femmenest, education, understanding and taking shared responsibility help couples prepare for parenthood.

Understanding Infertility: A Shared Responsibility

According to doctors, if you cannot conceive within one year of having regular unprotected intercourse, you are considered infertile. All over the world, around 1 in 6 people or 17.5% of adults, suffer from this condition. 

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It’s common to believe infertility is just a problem for women, but men can be affected too. It turns out that male issues can be found in about 30% of infertility cases, female factors are responsible for about 30% as well and the other 40% have unexplained or mixed causes.

Male Infertility: Breaking the Silence

Infertility has been discussed more often in relation to women rather than men. At the same time, male fertility problems are serious, most commonly caused by:

• Low levels of certain hormones can prevent sperm production.
• The presence of small fragments in certain areas of the Y chromosome’s AZF region is often linked to a lack of sperm and severe low sperm count.
• Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight and exposure to harmful substances around you may reduce the quality of your sperm.
• Many medical concerns such as varicoceles, infections and certain drugs, can make it more difficult to get pregnant.

To resolve male infertility, it is important to talk openly, get regular exams and be willing to see a doctor.

Female Infertility: Beyond the Biological Clock

As women age, their chances of becoming pregnant decrease, though other causes of infertility exist as well.

• There are ovulatory disorders, mostly linked to PCOS, that prevent ovulation from happening routinely.
• Sometimes, blocked fallopian tubes (which are often caused by infections or endometriosis) mean the egg and sperm cannot unite.
• If a woman has fibroids, polyps or some oddities in her uterus from birth, this can block proper implantation.
• Smoking, drinking a lot of alcohol and carrying extra weight can reduce fertility.

Following a regular schedule of gynecological checks and handling problems early is important for these cases.

The Emotional Toll: Navigating Psychological Impacts

Besides the physical side, infertility causes strong emotional and mental challenges for those experiencing it. Grief, shame and sadness tend to be common. Experts report that the strain from infertility often negatively affects couples’ relationships and general welfare.

Trying to manage these challenges is easier for couples when they attend counseling and become members of support groups.

Diagnostic Approaches: Evaluating Both Partners

Both partners are looked at during a thorough infertility evaluation.

For Men:

• Test to check the level of sperm, their movement and the shape of each sperm.
• Laboratory testing is used to measure testosterone and important related hormones.
• Studies that use imaging technology to see if there are any physical problems.

For Women:

• Tracking ovulation using both basal body temperature and lab tests for hormones.
• Health of the uterus and tubes may be checked using procedures like hysterosalpingography.
• In cases of suspected endometriosis or pelvic adhesions, an examination using laparoscopy is used.

Assessment that begins early and takes place with both parents is likely to catch problems early and find helpful treatments faster.

Treatment Modalities: Collaborative Solutions

Treatment approaches depend on the main problems and could be one of many techniques.

• Managing your weight, quitting smoking and cutting down alcohol help with fertility.
• Doctors often recommend ovulation drugs for women. Men may be given hormonal therapies such as artificial testosterone or anti-androgens.
• Treating problems by correcting varicoceles in men or removing fibroids from a woman’s uterus.

ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES (ART).

• IUI means placing sperm inside the uterus at the time you ovulate.
• IVF involves fertilizing eggs in the laboratory and then transferring the embryos into the woman’s uterus.
• Using the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) technique, a single sperm is injected into an egg when the male’s fertility is very low.

Working together and supporting each other helps these treatments be more successful.

Conclusion: Embracing the Journey Together

Dealing with infertility demands that partners support each other, talk about it, and help one another. Acknowledging that infertility can affect both people in a couple is the first important step in getting the issue diagnosed and treated. At Femmenest, we help couples throughout this process by providing thorough care and friendly consultation.

Want to do more? Send Femmenest an inquiry, and we’ll be there to help you on your path to parenthood.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can lifestyle changes improve fertility in both partners?

Well, boosting fertility in both men and women often involves adopting a healthy lifestyle, eating well, exercising and making sure not to smoke or drink excessive alcohol.

2. Is male infertility always due to low sperm count?

Not necessarily. Causes of male infertility may include defective sperm movement, poor sperm shape, imbalanced hormones and structural concerns.

3. How does age affect fertility in men and women?

Even though female fertility drops rapidly after 35, men’s fertility also begins to decrease, leading to worse sperm and a higher risk of abnormal genes being produced.

4. Are there support groups for couples dealing with infertility?

Several organizations and clinics supply emotional support for couples facing infertility.

5. When should a couple seek medical advice for infertility?

A healthcare provider should be consulted if a couple has been trying for conception over a year without luck and especially if the woman is older than 35 after just six months.