Infertility is diagnosed when a couple has been trying to conceive for one year without sucess. To better understand the difference between primary and secondary infertility, defining them will help:
Primary And Secondary Infertility
- Primary – this type of infertility is when a couple has never been able to conceive.
- Secondary – The couple is presently having difficulties to conceive but has children.
Causes of Infertility
As compared to men, women have a complex reproductive system and therefore there are more reasons for the infertility in women.
Female Infertility Causes
- Hormone problems – these may cause anovulation or the absence of production of matured egg cell.
- Scarred or injured ovaries – this may be brought about by surgeries near it. When the ovaries are damaged, maturation of the egg cells can be altered.
- Premature menopause – a rare and unexplained phenomenon where women begins the stage of menopause at an earlier age.
- Problems with the follicle – the sac that surrounds each egg cell that nourishes it until it matures is called follicle. Conditions like ‘œunruptured follicle syndrome’ may be the presenting cause.
- Infection
- Abdominal diseases such as appendicitis may cause blockage in the fallopian tubes.
- Previous ectopic pregnancy – this means that a fertilized egg cell have implanted on places other than the uterus that caused blockage and scarring.
- Congenital defects – there are women who were born with irregularities in the anatomy and physiology of their reproductive organs that caused infertility.
- Environmental factors such as smoking, taking drugs, and alcohol poisoning.
Causes Of Male Infertility
- Decreased sperm count
- Decreased sperm motility
- Hormonal imbalance in men
- Varicocele – dilation of a vein in the scrotum that increases temperature. An environment that is not suitable for sperm.
- Cryptorchidism – a congenital condition wherein the testes fails to descend to the scrotal sac
- Obstruction in the reproductive tract
- Injuries that can damage the reproductive organs
- Certain medications
- Environmental factors like working in areas with hot temperature r frequent hot bathes and saunas
- Stress
Treatment For Infertility
Though the difference between primary and secondary infertility is significant, its treatment are the same:
- Lifestyle modification
- Hormone treatment
- Assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), artificial insemination (AI), and more.
- Abstinence for about a month for low sperm count
- Surgery