There are several causes of infertility. For a couple to conceive and carry a pregnancy, the following parts of the reproductive system must be working efficiently.
1) Normal sperm must be produced in high enough numbers and delivered during sexual intercourse.
2) A woman’s ovaries must be regularly producing and releasing good quality eggs.
3) The reproductive passageways must be clear enough for the sperm to enter the uterus (through the cervix) and swim into the tubes to unite with the egg to form the embryo. Finally, this early embryo should be able to travel to the uterus through the fallopian tubes.
4) The lining of the uterus must be capable of having the embryo implant, and of sustaining the pregnancy.
Some of the typical causes of infertility include
- Growth and developmental factors that may happen during preconception, pregnancy, early childhood and puberty
- An infectious disease that can lead to tubal scarrings such as Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, mycoplasmas, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, tuberculosis of the reproductive tract, microbial organisms associated with reproductive tract infections, prostatitis, and mumps.
- Chronic conditions and diseases including endocrine and metabolic diseases such as primary ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothalamic amenorrhea, menstrual cycle defects, endometriosis, thyroid disorders, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cystic fibrosis, testicular disorders, multiple sclerosis and general urologic health.
- Reproductive ageing which can affect egg and semen quality
- Behavioural factors—such as diet, exercise, sleep, psychological and physiological stress, caffeine consumption, tobacco and alcohol use, weight gain or loss, nutritional disorders, illicit or prescription drug use, and illicit use of anabolic steroids and growth hormones.
- Effects of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy for the treatment of cancers and antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS.
- Occupational and environmental hazards such as radiation, injury (e.g., reproductive or urinary tract trauma such as that experienced during military duty), or natural or synthetic chemicals and compounds with hormonal activities
- Genetic influences—such as male karyotype abnormalities, Y chromosome micro-deletions, or androgen receptor gene abnormalities.
