Historically, it was very common to look to the female when it came to problems with fertility. We’ve come a long way since then, it seems.
Believe it or not, when looking at the statistics, approximately a third of all infertility cases are due to a problem with the male, about a third can be attributed to the female and a third remains unexplained.
The most common causes of male infertility are abnormal sperm production or function, issues relating to the delivery of the sperm, damage from cancer treatment or overexposure to environmental factors such as smoking, pesticides etc.
When it comes to male infertility, sometimes genetic factors can come into play such as chromosomal abnormalities and deletions, some men may have undescended testicles which simply means that the testicle hasn’t moved to its correct position in the scrotum which will affect sperm quality and quantity.
Female infertility can be due to ovulation disorders, hormone imbalances, thyroid gland problems, damage of the fallopian tubes that will impact fertilisation, physiological issues with the uterus or cervix, endometriosis, fibroids, or lowered egg reserve which can be due to premature menopause or simply age.
Ultimately, when looking at achieving a healthy pregnancy, it all comes down to quality and not the quantity and when looking at why you may have trouble conceiving, it’s important to consider the health of both the male and female. It takes both a sperm and an egg to create a healthy baby and both are just as important as the other, which is why Fertility First will always look at both sides.
For more information on how to make an appointment or discuss the first steps, contact our clinic on (02) 9586 3311 or email the team for at fert1@fertilityfirst.com.au for more information.
