What causes infertility? Making a baby (getting pregnant) is complex. Multiple things have to go right for both the man and the woman. Therefore, there are many causes of infertility in women and men. A WOMANS FERTILITY CAN BE AFFECTED BY: This is the process by which the egg leaves the ovary and travels to meet the sperm. Some women don’t ovulate every month, which makes it harder to become pre ...

Risk factors Many of the risk factors for both male and female infertility are the same. They include: Age. Women's fertility gradually declines with age, especially in the mid-30s, and it drops rapidly after age 37. Infertility in older women is likely due to the lower number and quality of eggs, and can also be due to health problems that affect fertility. Men over age 40 may be less fertile th ...

Lifestyle issues affecting conception: Lifestyle issues that impede fertility are factors that one can often change by choices and behaviors. As such, we encourage people having troubling getting pregnant to try these changes first, if they are applicable. Most of the lifestyle issues can affect both men and women. Weight. This is one of the primary lifestyle issues that can cause infertility in ...

For women, is there any connection between hypothyroidism and infertility? There is sometimes a link between hypothyroidism — when you have an underactive thyroid gland — and infertility in women. With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones. Low levels of thyroid hormone can interfere with the release of an egg from your ovary (ovulation), which im ...

Fertility tests the doctor may want include: A sperm count and analysis to evaluate whether your partner is releasing enough live, normally shaped, fast-moving sperm to make fatherhood possible. Complete blood count and screening of both partners for blood type, HIV and hepatitis viruses, as well as immunity to German measles, and to assess functioning of organs, such as the thyroid gland. Hormon ...

AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: Autoimmune disorders cause the body's immune system to attack normal body tissues it would normally ignore. Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, Hashimoto's and other types of thyroiditis, or rheumatoid arthritis, may affect fertility. The reasons for this are not fully understood and differ between diseases, but they are thought to involve inflammation in the uterus and plac ...

When to see a doctor You probably don't need to see a doctor about infertility unless you have been trying regularly to get pregnant for at least one year. Women should talk with a doctor earlier, however, if they: Are age 35 or older and have been trying to conceive for six months or longer Are over age 40 Have irregular or absent periods Have very painful periods Have known fertility problems H ...

What are the causes of low sperm count or abnormal sperm function in men? Low sperm count or abnormal sperm function may be caused by different things. These include: Undescended testicles Genetic defects/DNA damage Diabetes Prior bacterial or viral infections such as mumps or adenovirus Trauma or prior surgeries on the testicles or inguinal region Enlarged veins (varicoceles) in the testes that ...