Infertility: A modern-day ailment

Infertility is defined as a condition where a couple has regular sexual intercourse for more than a year without using any form of contraception and has failed to conceive.

According to a new study by the National Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital and Hanoi Medical University Hospital, the infertility rate among young couples in Vietnam is currently 7.7%. So what exactly is infertility? Let's explore the concept of infertility and its causes in both men and women to better understand this condition.

What is infertility?

Infertility is defined as a couple having regular sexual intercourse for more than a year without using any contraception and failing to conceive. There are two types of infertility: primary infertility and secondary infertility. Primary infertility occurs when a couple has been having sexual intercourse for more than a year without ever conceiving, while secondary infertility occurs when a woman has previously been pregnant but is unable to conceive again.

Approximately 40% of infertility cases are caused by male factors, 40% by female factors, 10% by factors affecting both partners, and 10% are of unknown cause. To treat infertility, both partners need to undergo examinations to determine the cause, allowing the doctor to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Infertility is currently a common ailment in modern times.

Male infertility

Male infertility is often caused by factors such as poor sperm quality or low sperm count. This can result from testicular abnormalities such as orchitis, seminiferous tubulitis, varicocele, or hormonal abnormalities.

Other causes include medications that affect sperm quality, such as those used to treat stomach pain or high blood pressure, which can lead to poor sperm motility; sexually transmitted infections that cause inflammation of the vas deferens, blocking the passage of sperm from the testicles to the seminal vesicles; urinary tract infections; complications of mumps, epididymitis; and varicocele, which can result in abnormal sperm with unusual structures in the head, body, and tail; and the effects of radiation, alcohol abuse, and smoking, which can also cause sperm mutations.

Additionally, men with diabetes, high blood pressure, or advanced age, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, prolonged stress, or unresolved marital conflicts can also experience infertility. These factors can also contribute to male infertility.

Some signs of male infertility include: pain during ejaculation, blood in the semen; a swollen, tense, and soft scrotum on one or both sides; testicular torsion; or undescended testicles.

Testicular swelling, pain, and redness can occur due to severe epididymitis or testicular torsion, preventing blood flow to nourish the testicles. Men may experience erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Pain in the head of the penis, accompanied by green or yellow pus discharge. Conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, sickle cell anemia, and diseases of the reproductive organs, if left untreated, can lead to male infertility.

In addition, men can recognize infertility through several systemic symptoms such as hair loss, abdominal obesity, dry and wrinkled skin, excessive sweating, severe stress, and constant anxiety.

Infertility in women

There are many causes of infertility in women, most of which are due to gynecological diseases. Below are the main causes:

Due to pelvic inflammatory disease:Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can be caused by bacteria such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Due to polycystic ovary syndrome:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition where the ovaries have many small cysts. When suffering from PCOS, infrequent menstruation (menstruation only occurs every few months) or ovulation disorders occur, and this is a cause of infertility.

Fallopian tube obstruction:Inflammation of the fallopian tubes, or fallopian tubes, causes scarring that narrows or blocks them, preventing the egg and sperm from meeting, leading to infertility. One of the reasons many women experience blocked fallopian tubes is poor hygiene during menstruation. During menstruation, the vagina is open, creating favorable conditions for harmful bacteria to enter and cause infection if proper hygiene practices are not followed.

Untreated vaginal or cervical infections can cause retrograde infection of the fallopian tubes, leading to blockage. Repeated and unsafe abortions are also a leading cause of fallopian tube blockage.

Poor egg quality:This refers to the inability of an egg to form a zygote with sperm. Egg quality is a prerequisite for the egg to develop into an embryo after fertilization. Poor egg quality is a common cause of infertility in women.

Too many abortions:Having too many abortions can damage the reproductive organs, especially thinning the uterine lining. Furthermore, abortions can easily cause infections that may lead to blocked fallopian tubes or uterine adhesions, ultimately resulting in infertility.

Diseases of the uterus:Uterine fibroids, uterine polyps…

They may also suffer from other conditions such as gout, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, and uterine fibroids.

Using other medications to treat other illnesses can cause side effects.

It is difficult to recognize the signs of infertility in women because in some cases the cause of infertility cannot be determined. The following are the most common signs:

Menstrual disorders:Menstrual disorders such as amenorrhea, prolonged bleeding exceeding 10 days, dysmenorrhea, scanty menstruation (only bleeding for the first 2-3 days and then stopping completely), dark and clotted menstrual blood, etc., can all lead to infertility.

My body is always tired:Women who constantly feel tired, are obese or excessively thin and frail, have pale or yellowish skin, headaches, dizziness… These are not signs of infertility, but they are signs of other diseases affecting fertility such as liver and kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases…

Having regular sex without getting pregnant:Both husband and wife showed no symptoms, had regular sexual intercourse 2-3 times a week, and did not use any contraception for a period of time; this is one of the clearest signs of infertility.

Besides medical conditions, general health and nutrition also affect the fertility of some individuals. If both men and women consume a lot of harmful foods, especially tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, and are exposed to chemicals and polluted environments, it can affect their fertility. Age also impacts fertility; women over 35 often have more difficulty conceiving.

How is infertility diagnosed and treated?

Both partners should see a doctor and follow their infertility treatment plan for the best results.

Doctors will order examinations and tests such as blood tests, urine tests, gynecological examinations, hysterosalpingography (HSG) in women, or semen analysis in men, and examination of the male reproductive organs to find the cause of infertility in both men and women. After determining the true cause of infertility, the doctor will recommend appropriate treatment, which may involve medical treatment or surgical intervention.

In addition, doctors may prescribe several assisted reproductive methods such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Among these, IUI is often preferred due to its advantages such as saving time and costs, and its relatively high effectiveness. Currently, IUI treatment for infertility is performed at many obstetric centers and brings happiness to infertile couples.

Therefore, couples experiencing infertility should not worry too much, but should go to the hospital to receive further advice from doctors on the best treatment options for optimal results.

According to Zing