Understanding Infertility in Men and Women: Causes, Diagnosis, and Available Treatments

7 February 2024 17 min read

This article is written by our clinical team for the women and families we meet every day. It is meant to inform you, not to replace a consultation, and every recommendation here is one we would give you in the room.

First of all, Starting a family can be difficult for couples who are infertile. Fertility issues can affect both men and women, although the common perception that they are a women’s problem. We’ll examine the complexities of both male and female infertility in this blog, including its causes, diagnosis, and available treatments.

Male Infertility:

After a year of unprotected sexual activity, a man is considered to be infertile if he is unable to conceive a fertile female partner. It may result from a number of things, such as:

Disorders of Sperm Production:

Low sperm count (oligospermia) or no sperm at all (azoospermia) can result from conditions such as varicocele, hormonal imbalances, genetic defects, or certain medications. These conditions can also affect sperm production.

Sperm Function Disorders: Insufficient speed or aberrant morphology (Shape) may interfere with sperm’s ability to fertilizer an egg, even if they are produced in sufficient numbers.

Blockages : The release of sperm during ejaculation may be delayed by obstructions or blockages in the reproductive tract brought on by infections, surgeries, or genetic disorders.

Diagnosis: The most common method for diagnosing male infertility is a thorough examination that includes sperm count, motion and morphology assessments through the sperm analysis. To find the underlying causes, more examinations like imaging studies, genetic testing, and hormone assays might be carried out.

Treatment of Male Infertility: Depending on the underlying cause, treatment options for male infertility may involve hormone therapy, surgery to remove blockages, lifestyle changes, or assisted reproductive methods like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Female infertility

The incapacity of a woman to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term is known as female infertility. It may be the consequence of several things, such as:

Ovulation Disorders: A number of illnesses, including PCOS, thyroid issues, and premature ovarian failure, can interfere with ovulation and cause irregular or nonexistent menstrual cycles.

Fallopian Tube Blockages: The egg may not be able to fertilize if the fallopian tubes are damaged or blocked by endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or prior surgeries.

Uterine Abnormalities: Fibroids, polyps, and congenital malformations are examples of uterine structural abnormalities that can impede implantation or result in recurrent miscarriages.

Diagnosis: A complete evaluation that includes the patient’s medical history, physical examination, hormone tests, imaging studies (ultrasound, hysterosalpingography), and ovarian reserve testing (e.g., anti-Müllerian hormone levels) is used to diagnose female infertility.

Treatment Female infertility: Depending on the underlying cause of the infertility in women, treatment options include surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities, medication-assisted ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination (IUI), or in vitro fertilization (IVF) with or without additional procedures like intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or preimplantation genetic testing.

couples may find infertility to be a difficult and emotionally taxing experience. However, many couples are able to overcome infertility issues and realise their dream of starting a family due to advancements in reproductive medicine and the availability of numerous treatment options. Seeking prompt assessment and care from a trained reproductive specialist can offer direction and hope for the parenthood journey.

We at Divine Women’s Hospital provide all types of infertility treatment from basic evolution to advanced procedure. In addition to providing treatment, we have counseling services for infertile couples.

Dr. Dipesh J Sorathiya is senior Infertility & IVF Specialist in Ahmedabad with 16+ years of experience . Currently he is working as director and head of department of IVF at KD Hospital and Director of Khushi IVF, Ahmedabad and Anjar.

Treatment available at Divine Women’s Hospital:

Infertility Treatment
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Embryo/Egg/Sperm Donation
Ovulation Induction Treatment
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Azoospermia

Why families across Gujarat trust Divine Women's Hospital

Choosing where to be cared for is a personal decision, and it usually comes down to one question: will someone actually listen to me? At Divine Women's Hospital, that is where every consultation begins. Our senior consultants stay with you from the first visit through recovery, so you never have to repeat your story to a new face.

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