While the 21st century already saw to the emancipation of women (and men too), as well the death of as many traditions, there are still some beliefs that persist and influence a great number of people in the society. Very little attention is paid to parenthood because it is not really an unusual event; in fact, it is just a regular, stage of any person’s life. Learning about one’s own state of infertility is such an overwhelming and agonizing episode as thoughts are centered right away on social pressure. One might wonder about the various causes of infertility. The causes of infertility may not always be clear; what is clear is that both men and women have an equal chance of being infertile.
In women, ovulation disorders are the common causes of infertility, such as: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) where the ovaries could not produce eggs, thyroid complications, premature ovarian failure, Cushing’s disease, hormonal problems and other chronic diseases that complicate ovulation like cancer and AIDS.
Other causes are related to structural abnormalities that may be caused by: scars due to surgeries and infections in the pelvic area, growths like fibroids or non-cancerous tumors, and endometriosis or uterine lining tissues growing in fallopian tubes. Fallopian tubes are rendered impassable when growths and scars act as blockages that make it hard for eggs or ova to pass through.
On the other hand, the common causes of infertility for men are usually related to having abnormal semen that results to: low sperm count or reduced number of spermatozoa or slow movement of sperm due to structural deformities. Infertility may also be caused by physical abnormalities in the testes or testicles. These deformities may be due to scars resulting from infections, traumatic accidents and surgeries, growths from tumors, or congenital in origin.
Have you ever thought about causes of infertility of unknown origin? Probably they are due to environmental factors or results of interaction of certain factors with unknown consequences. Some environmental factors that could induce infertility are substance abuse, exposure to harmful chemicals and radiation, stress, obesity and extremely low body weight. This is one area where control can be exercised, that is if parenthood is desired.