Infertility: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Infertility Diagnosis

Diagnosis for Female Infertility

Your healthcare physician will first ask you about your whole medical and sexual history.

The ovulation of healthy eggs is a requirement for fertility in those with uteruses. This implies that in order for an egg to be released from your ovary, travel down your fallopian tube, and land on the lining of your uterus, your brain must transmit hormonal signals to your ovary. The goal of fertility testing is to identify a problem with any of these processes.

Additionally, these tests may be used to identify or rule out issues:

• A pelvic exam to look for structural issues or illness symptoms
• Blood tests to determine whether you are ovulating
• Transvaginal ultrasound to check for reproductive system problems.
• Hysteroscopy to examine your uterus
• The use of saline sono-hysterogram (SIS) or sono-hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to look for tubal obstructions
• X-ray hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to look for blockage
• Laparoscopy to detect issues of concern, such as scar tissue, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis.

Diagnosis for Male Infertility

Verifying that a person produces healthy sperm in their ejaculate is often necessary to diagnose infertility in those with a penis. Most fertility tests search for sperm issues.

These tests can aid in problem diagnosis or problem exclusion:

• Analyzing the semen: This test looks for low sperm counts and poor sperm motility. To collect sperm from their testicles for testing, some persons require a needle biopsy.
• Checking thyroid and other hormone levels with a blood test. During genetic blood tests, defective chromosomes are sought after.
• Scrotal ultrasound: A scrotal ultrasound can detect varicoceles or other testicular issues.

Infertility Treatment

Female Infertility Treatment

Women and those born with the gender assigned can receive the following treatments for infertility:

• Changes in lifestyle might increase your chances of getting pregnant, including gaining or decreasing weight, quitting smoking or using drugs, and addressing other medical conditions.
• Medication: Fertility medications encourage your ovaries to release more eggs from your ovaries, increasing your likelihood of becoming pregnant.
• Surgery: Surgery can free clogged fallopian tubes and get rid of scar tissue, polyps, and fibroids.

Male Infertility Treatment

If you have a penis or testes, you can have reproductive treatments like:

• Medication: Medication can increase the levels of testosterone or other hormones. To assist you keep an erection during sexual activity, there are also medications for erectile dysfunction.
• Surgery: Some men require surgery to clear obstructions in the sperm canals or to fix structural issues. The chances of conception are increased with varicocele surgery by improving the health of sperm.

Other Treatments for Infertility

Some couples require extra assistance while utilizing assisted reproductive technologies to get pregnant. Before attempting one of these techniques, you can take drugs to promote ovulation to boost your chances of becoming pregnant. These include in-vitro fertilization (IVF), Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), Intrauterine insemination (IUI), assisted hatching, and third-party assisted reproductive technology, such as the use of donor eggs, sperms, or embryos or even a surrogate.

Infertility Prevention

The following actions can be taken to preserve your fertility, particularly while attempting to conceive:

• Eat a balanced diet and keep your weight at a healthy level.
• Avoid using drugs, smoking, or consuming alcohol.
• Receive STI treatment.
• Be careful not to overexpose yourself to poisons.
• Continue to be physically active, but don't overdo it.
• Don't wait too long to get pregnant.
• Sperm or egg freezing treatments to preserve fertility.

References

Balasch, J. (2010). Ageing and infertility: an overview. Gynecological Endocrinology, 26(12), 855-860.

Balen, A. H., & Rutherford, A. J. (2007). Management of infertility. Bmj, 335(7620), 608-611.

Carson, S. A., & Kallen, A. N. (2021). Diagnosis and management of infertility: a review. Jama, 326(1), 65-76.

Leaver, R. B. (2016). Male infertility: an overview of causes and treatment options. British Journal of Nursing, 25(18), S35-S40.

Smith, S., Pfeifer, S. M., & Collins, J. A. (2003). Diagnosis and management of female infertility. Jama, 290(13), 1767-1770.

Templeton, A. (2000). Infertility and the establishment of pregnancy–overview. British medical bulletin, 56(3), 577-587.