How is infertility defined and what are the causes of infertility?

As people are under increasing pressure, young couples not only have to work hard to make money, but also have to endure hazards such as environmental pollution. Infertility also brings certain pressure to young people. So, what exactly is infertility? Regarding the definition of infertility, many couples have not yet figured out and have certain misunderstandings in their understanding. Therefore, they do not respect science in treatment, which leads to many detours. Let’s take a closer look at the definition of infertility.

Definition of Infertility

Couples suffering from infertility are unfortunate, but both husband and wife should help each other, find out the cause of infertility, and seek timely treatment. Many men still shift the blame for infertility to women. In fact, from the definition of infertility, men and women each account for half, and both may cause infertility. Let’s take a look at the specific introduction about infertility.

Infertility refers to the inability to become pregnant after living together, having normal sexual life, and not taking any contraceptive measures for more than one year after marriage. Depending on whether or not the couple has become pregnant after marriage, infertility can be divided into primary infertility and secondary infertility. Primary infertility refers to the absence of pregnancy; secondary infertility refers to the absence of pregnancy after having been pregnant for more than one year without taking any contraceptive measures. According to the cause of infertility, it can be divided into relative infertility and absolute infertility: relative infertility means that one of the couple is hindered from conception or has reduced fertility for some reason, resulting in temporary infertility. If the factor is corrected, pregnancy is still possible.

Causes of Infertility

Infertility may be caused by the woman, the man, or both. About 60% is due to female factors, about 30% is due to male factors, and about 10% is due to factors of both parties.

1. Female infertility factors

1. Vulvar and vaginal factors include abnormal development of the vulva and vagina, adhesion and scar stenosis formed after vaginal injury, which affects the entry of sperm into the cervix, affects fertilization, and vaginal inflammation.

2. Uterine factors: Congenital uterine malformations, endometrial abnormalities, uterine tumors, etc. can all cause infertility.

3. Cervical factors: The cervix is ​​the pathway for sperm to enter the uterine cavity. The amount and properties of cervical mucus will affect whether sperm can enter the uterine cavity.

The cervical canal is dysplastic and elongated, which affects the passage of sperm; cervical canal mucosal dysplasia leads to insufficient glandular secretion, cervical inflammation and growths, such as cervical polyps and cervical fibroids, which block the cervical canal and affect fertilization.

4. Ovarian factors: Ovarian developmental abnormalities, endometriosis, luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome, ovarian tumors, and luteal insufficiency affect conception.

5. Ovulatory disorders and factors that cause ovarian dysfunction and anovulation can lead to infertility.

6. Fallopian tube factors The fallopian tube has the function of transporting sperm, picking up eggs and transporting fertilized eggs to the uterine cavity. Fallopian tube disease is the most common factor in infertility, and any factor that affects fallopian tube function will affect fertilization. Incomplete development of the fallopian tube, inflammation of the fallopian tube, and lesions around the fallopian tube are all factors that can affect infertility.

7. Psychological factors include inferiority complex, anxiety, mental tension, reduced social interaction, lack of interest in life, anxiety, and a sense of loss.

2. Male Infertility Factors

The main problems are spermatogenesis and insemination disorders. The external genitalia and semen should be examined for abnormalities.

1. Abnormal sexual function, such as genital hypoplasia or impotence leading to sexual intercourse difficulties, etc.

2. Abnormal semen, such as no sperm or too few sperm, weakened sperm motility, and abnormal morphology.

3. Immune factors: Sperm and seminal plasma produce antibodies against their own sperm in the body, which can cause male infertility. The ejaculated sperm agglutinates itself and cannot pass through the cervical mucus.

4. Sperm transport is obstructed. Epididymal and vas deferens tuberculosis can block the vas deferens and hinder the passage of sperm; impotence and premature ejaculation cannot prevent sperm from entering the female vagina.

5. Endocrine dysfunction: Male endocrine is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis. Dysfunction of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, and adrenal glands may affect sperm production and cause infertility.

It can be seen that the definition of infertility is for both men and women, not for either party. Therefore, both husband and wife must bear the responsibility for infertility and try to find out the cause of infertility so as to carry out targeted treatment in time, get rid of the pain of infertility, and become parents as soon as possible. Never go to the extreme of treating infertility.