15 Mind Numbing Facts About Infertility And Artificial Insemination

What is infertility ?

Infertility is described as a condition in which the female partner is unable to conceive even after having regular unprotected intercourse with her male partner for a considerable period of time. In some countries it refers to a period of at least 12 months of unprotected sex. Here, unprotected sex means without opting for any contraception.   

Various studies establish that about half of all the cases of infertility are due to female disorders while about 20 per cent of the cases may be attributed to unhealthy and insufficient sperm in male. Remaining 30 per cent may be due to a combination of factors both in male and female.

What is male infertility?

A man's infertility results from low quantity and low quality of sperm. If the quantity and quality of sperm a man ejaculates is low it is very difficult or even impossible for a woman to conceive. Medical tests are required to ascertain whether a man is infertile because of low quality/quantity of sperm. Sperm transport problem is also vital point that counts. About one out of every five infertile men is found to suffer from this. Obstruction in the tubes that leads sperm from the testicles to the penis may render a man to produce semen completely without sperm. This problem is witnessed in men who had Vasectomy operation in the past and now want more children. 

Reasons of Male Infertility :-

• Addiction to alcohol or smoking or drugs may significantly reduce the sperm production ability of a man and affects the quality of sperm.

• Lack of Vitamin C and minerals such as Zinc in diet

• Anemia and lack of nutrition

• Use of Anabolic Steroid may lead to testicular shrinkage and infertility

• Rigorous physical activity produces high level of adrenal steroid hormones and reduces level of testosterone and leads to infertility

• Excessive level of stress, anxiety and sleeplessness

• Use of very tight underwear increases scrotal temperature affecting production of sperm. 

The above disorders are not serious and may be overcome by a change in behaviour and life style.  

Male Hormonal Disorders

The hypothalamus-pituitary endocrine system controls hormonal functions that enable testes to produce sperm and properly release the same. The hypothalamus-pituitary endocrine system may be affected due to:-

• Failure by brain to release gonadotrophic-releasing hormone(GnRH) that boosts hormonal pathway that results in testosterone systhesis and sperm production. Any disorder to release (GnRH) affects testosterone level and production of sperm.

• Failure by pituitary gland to secrete lutenizing  hormone(LH) and follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) required for testosterone and sperm production.

• Failure by leydig cells of testes to produce testosterone in response to LH stimulation.

• Production of any other chemical compounds or hormones by a male may interfere and disturb sex hormone balance. 

Erection /Ejaculation and Other Disorders

• Erectile dysfunction(ED)

• Ejaculation Incompetence

• Prostate Surgery

• Spinal cord Injury

• Premature Ejaculation

• Damage to Nerves

• Side effects of some medicines

What is Female Infertility?

The most common causes are :

• Problems With Ovulation

• As we age our fertility also decreases

Again, ovulation disorder may be due to :

• Tumour or cyst in uterus
• Addiction to alcohol or drugs
• Hormonal imbalance
• Thyroid disorder
• Obesity
• Stress, anxiety or depression
• Rigorous physical activities or exercises
• Brief or irregular menstrual cycle

Female infertility may also be due to a damage to the fallopian tubes or uterus. It may be due to :

• A birth defect
• Pelvic inflammatory disease e.g. an infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes due to STDs(Sexually Transmitted Disease)
• Ectopic or Tubal pregnancy, a condition when an implanted fertilized egg starts to develop in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus
• Other chronic illnesses like Tuberculosis(TB) of the Pelvic

Diagnosis

• Urine/Blood test to ascertain hormonal and thyroid disorder or any infections

• Exam of cervical mucus/tissue to check for ovulation disorder

• Exam of the pelvic area

• Check for condition of reproductive organs and blockage/adhesions/scar tissue by inserting Laparoscop

• Ultrasound to check for condition of uterus and ovaries

• Hysteroscopy - in this test a tiny telescope with a fibre light to investigate uterine abnormalities

• HSG - in this test colored liquid is inserted into the fallopian tubes, then an x-ray is done to check for blockage

• Sonohystogram - it's a combination of ultrasound and saline injection into the uterus to find out any abnormality

Treatment

• Antibiotics to treat infection

• Hormonal treatment to fix hormonal disorder

• Medications to stimulate normal ovulation

• Following nutritional diet

• Minor surgery may also be required to remove any blockage in the fallopian tubes, uterus or pelvic area

What is Artificial Insemination?

The method 'artificial insemination' (AI) involves direct insertion of semen into a woman's womb. This method of fertilization was first tested and used successfully on livestock. Although, many reasons of infertility are medically treatable, there are certain circumstances where  Al (Artificial Insemination) becomes necessary :-

• When a woman wants to be a single mother she may ask a sperm donor to be artificially inseminated

• The female is infertile due to 'cervical factor infertility' whereby the cervix cannot produce enough of this mucus or produces mucus containing sperm killing substances

• The male is unable normal sexual intercourse due to impotency (erectile disorder)

• The female becomes allergic to semen when in contact  caused by some proteins present in the sperm. Artificial insemination is effective in these cases as under IUI(Intrauterine Insemination) method most proteins are removed before insertion 

• The female suffers from 'Endometriosis', a condition in which cells from the womb lining start to grow in inappropriate places such as ovaries or fallopian tubes where they should not. Artificial insemination is effective in these cases

• The male cannot produce sufficient number of sperm required for fertilization i.e. sperm count is very low in spite of treatment

• The male has become infertile which is irreversable due to some medical treatment such as 'radiotherapy'

• The couple belongs to 'same sex group' because same sex marriage has been recognized in many countries today. If two women want to raise a baby either of them must be artificially inseminated with a donor's sperm

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