Having a baby is a joyous moment in life, and finding out your pregnant is a very exciting experience. However, trying unsuccessfully to become pregnant and not knowing the reasons behind it can be devastating. Couples struggling with infertility can often feel depressed and lonely, especially when it seems like everyone they know is expecting a baby.
Infertility is defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as when a couple is unsuccessful at conceiving a baby (becoming pregnant) within a one-year period of having regular sexual intercourse without the use of birth control. It may come as a surprise, but infertility actually affects about 15 percent of couples trying to conceive.
If you and your partner have been unable to conceive a child, you probably want to know the reason why right away. Knowledge and support can also give you the help you need to learn and cope with infertility, and to learn what can be done to help the situation.
Infertility can affect both men and women, and the reasons and factors surrounding the reasons for can vary. These factors can be behavioral, environmental, and physical. Common reasons for infertility include:
· Genetic defects
· Hormonal imbalance
· Stress
· Poor and unhealthy diet
· Varicocele (An enlargement of the veins within the scrotum)
· Medications
· Sperm Blockage
· Erectile Dysfunction
· Premature Ejaculation
· Testicular cancer and other conditions
· Infection or injury
· Undescended testicle
What Can Couples Do About Infertility?
It is important to know that you are not alone, and that there are many methods that have been proven to help increase you and your partner’s chances of becoming pregnant. These treatments include: lifestyle changes, medication, surgery, and assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF. The first thing to do is consult with your doctor to find out if there is any diagnosable condition causing infertility, and then seek the best treatment options available.
To get a closer look at what can be the cause of your infertility, and how to treat it, call Ironwood Urology at (480) 961-2323 to learn more or request an appointment online.
