Infertility

Kalafhi Medical Centre | Tuesday September 19, 2023 06:00

Infertility can be primary or secondary. Primary infertility is when a pregnancy has never been achieved by a person, and secondary infertility is when at least one prior pregnancy has been achieved.

What causes infertility? Infertility may be caused by a number of different factors, in either the male or female reproductive systems. However, it is sometimes not possible to explain the causes of infertility. In the female reproductive system, infertility may be caused by:

• Tubal disorders like blocked fallopian tubes, which are brought on by untreated STIs or side effects of unsafe abortion, postpartum sepsis, or abdominal/pelvic surgery;

• Uterine disorders that can be either inflammatory (like endometriosis), congenital (like a septate uterus), or benign (like fibroids); • Disorders of the ovaries, like polycystic ovarian syndrome and other follicular dysfunction • Genetic Factors In the male reproductive system, infertility may be caused by: • Genetic factors • Lifestyle choices (e.g., smoking, excessive alcohol intake), toxicity exposure, and structural abnormalities

• Obstruction of the reproductive tube, resulting in defective sperm ejection.

This occlusion can arise in the tubes that transport sperm. Blockages are most usually caused by genital tract injuries or infections.

• Hormonal diseases cause irregularities in hormones produced by the pituitary gland, brain, and testicles. Hormones such as testosterone control sperm production. Pituitary or testicular tumours are two examples of illnesses that cause hormonal imbalance.

• Sperm production failure in the testis, which can be caused by varicoceles or medicinal therapies that affect sperm-producing cells (such as chemotherapy) • Poor sperm function and quality. Conditions or circumstances that produce abnormal sperm shape and mobility have a negative impact on fertility. Diagnostic tests, like semen analysis, help assess sperm count, motility, morphology, and other factors.

Treatment options may include medication, surgery, or assisted reproductive techniques like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF), depending on the cause.

ADRESSING INFERTILITY

• In order to successfully manage infertility, health policies must recognise that infertility is an illness that can frequently be avoided, reducing the need for costly and inaccessible therapies.

• Including fertility education in national comprehensive sexuality education curricula • Promoting healthy lifestyles to lower behavioural risks, such as STI prevention, detection, and early treatment • Avoiding complications from unsafe abortions, postpartum infections, and abdominal/pelvic surgery • Environmental hazards linked to infertility can be addressed by legislative and programmatic initiatives that all governments can employ. .

REFERENCE World Health Organization, April 3, 2023