Structural abnormalities are the major cause of infertility in men. You should therefore see a doctor if you suspect you have a structural problem so that the problem can be fixed if possible. The structural abnormalities occur at birth, after surgery, and as a result of an illness. Structural abnormalities that cause infertility in men and that can be used as signs of male infertility include:

•    Varicocele occurs in the scrotum and it is a network of dilated varicose veins. These veins are usually found in the left side of the scrotum and this is one of the major signs of male infertility.

•    Undescended testicles are testicles that fail to drop into the scrotum and remain in the abdomen. The sperm that such testicles produce will be impaired.

•    Surgery following conditions and diseases such as testicular, prostate, and bladder cancer and hernia may lead to the impairment of the path through which sperms leave the testicles.

•    Epididymis, or vas deferens, may be obstructed for reasons such as a sexually transmitted disease and this means the sperms in the required quantities will not be ejaculated.

•    Structural abnormality can be caused by medical procedures done in men who no longer wish to have children. In such as procedure, the vas deferens is obstructed.

Some medical disorders can be taken as signs of male infertility. These include sickle-cell, cystic fibrosis, alcoholism, and renal disease. If you have a pre-existing medical condition and you suspect it might be the cause of your infertility, talk to your doctor about it and consider a change of medication.  Abuse of some therapeutic and illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine can cause male infertility. You should also avoid exposure to occupational and environmental toxins to reduce the risk to your testicular function. Other causes of male infertility include testicular trauma and torsion, or the twisting of the cord attaching the testis to the body. Learn the signs of male infertility so that you can take action before it is too late to get a baby.

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1. Common Reasons for Male Infertility
2. Main Signs of Infertility

•    The shape of the sperm: Some men have sperm that have a shape that is not ideal for fertilization.

•    The sperm count: This is the total number of sperms in the sample and if this number is low, the chances of a sperm reaching the egg is also low.

•    The concentration of the sperm: This is the number of sperms in a milliliter of semen. If this number is low, fertilization may not happen because it is the sperms, and not the semen, that find their way towards the egg.

•    Asthenospermia: This is a condition where the sperm does not develop the necessary speed, leading to the death of the sperm before they can fertilize the egg. In some extreme cases of asthenospermia, the sperm is immobile and this is one of the common reasons for male infertility.

•    The volume of the semen: If this is low, the number of sperms that find their way to the eggs is drastically reduced.

•    The sperm mobility: Some men have sperm that are not able to move as they should towards the egg and this reduces the chances of fertilizing the egg.

•    Forward progression of the sperm: The quality of movement of the sperm in some men is weak for one reason or the other.

Of all these reasons for male infertility, forward progression and sperm mobility are the major causes of infertility in men. Even men who have a low sperm count can get children if their sperm is of high-quality. If you have been unsuccessful in getting a child, both parties should be checked. Note that the quality of the sperm can change due to a number of controllable and uncontrollable factors, meaning the analysis should be done over a period of 2 to 6 months. Sperm disorder is caused by:

•    Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy and radiotherapy near the testicles cause sperm disorder.

•    STDs: Sexually transmitted diseases may attack a part of the body transporting sperm from the testicles.

•    Cryptorchidism: This is a condition whereby the testis is in the groin area or the abdomen and it causes sperm disorder since the conditions are not conducive for sperms.

•    Age: Sperm mobility and the quality of the sperm start to decline when a man reaches 35.

•    Immune disorders: Immune disorders make the body view sperm as foreign matter, meaning it will produce antibodies to fight them.

•    Other reasons for male infertility are excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking.

Related posts:

1. Major Signs of Male Infertility
2. Reasons for Infertility: Causes from Men and Women?

The Effects, Risks and Side Effects Associated With Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Conventional medicine is the first essential treatment normally given to couples who might not be able to have children or experience miscarriages after having unprotected sex for over a year, hence making it necessary to understand infertility and FSH effects, risks and other side effects. With the ever-evolving technology in the medical field, conventional medicine proves to be vital in infertility treatment though it has few side effects. This article talks about Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), its meaning, its effects, possible side effects and any potential threat involved in hormonal imbalance treatment using conventional medication.

When testing for infertility, it is also very common to check for FSH levels. In essence, FSH levels and infertility testing are normally carried as one complete process. FSH levels test is part of the first three tests regularly provided to couples experiencing infertility problems. The next test normally used after the FSH levels, involves analyzing the man’s semen by checking for possible problems in sperm motility, sperm abnormalities or sperm count. The third infertility test usually happens at the start of infertility tests, involves checking for any blockages in a female’s fallopian tubes. This test is called hysterosalpingogram or an HSG.

1. Definition
Follicle stimulating hormone or FSH consists of purified urine from post-menopause women. FSH is used for follicle stimulation, egg production and ovulation disorder treatment.

2. Effects of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on infertile women
The medication should be only given to women who have ovulation complications for instance failure to respond to medication of ovulatory dysfunction and yet they have high LH levels as we had mentioned in our previous article.

a) Follicle Enhancer
Follicle stimulating hormone or FHS, is produced by front pituitary glands resulting from secretion of gonadotropin releasing hormones leading to discharge of low amounts of GrNH in a woman’s body, hence causing low discharge of FSH and eventually low amounts of FSH. This interrupts ovulation and production of follicles, which is necessary for producing eggs in the ovaries.

b) Egg Production
Apart from stimulating follicles production, it assists in enhancing mature production as well as extruding mature eggs to a woman’s fallopian tube, which is an essential element that helps women in conceiving.

Since infertility and FSH are interrelated, women going through follicle-stimulating hormone treatment need up-close monitoring by their personal doctor.

3. FSH Side effects
Research indicates that the FSH infertility medication poses a risk of increasing changes in the menstrual cycle and other risks such as cramps, abnormal pains and vaginal bleeding.

4. Risks
a) FSH treatment can lead to ectopic pregnancy which may result from production of eggs that are mature in excess and are extruded to the fallopian tubes or anywhere else.

b) Another risk is a miscarriage due to less progesterone, which supports embryo’s development.

c) Infertility and FSH medication can also lead to ovarian cysts.

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Infertility is a condition that is common affecting at least one in seven couples. Trying to conceive can be stressful and stress in itself may reduce the likelihood of conceiving.

In a study conducted recently, 75% of men who were questioned accepted that striving to conceive added unfavorable pressure on the relationship with the partner. A lot of people are delaying conception; however, medical studies suggest that older women face the most difficulty trying to conceive.

For many men, the reasons for infertility are mainly a sperm count that is low caused by various reasons with some of them being medical. These include conditions such as variocele as well as abnormally shaped sperms. The man’s lifestyle can also cause low or high sperm count. For example, men who smoke, take illegal drugs or drink excessively are likely to have low sperm count in comparison to men who do not. Wearing pants that are tight and soaking oneself in hot tubs can as well reduce sperm count. Certainly, these are a number of things that may be altered to correct this predicament. Medications as well as certain sicknesses can cause sperm counts that are low temporarily; however, this can be corrected.

One of the major reasons for infertility in women is ovulation. There are a number of factors that can cause a decline in ovulation like stressful situations as well as the age of a woman. If a woman is 30yrs or more, ovulation slows down considerably. The late teens as well as the early twenties age groups have the best ovulation chances. Some medical conditions are also known to cause women to be infertile and they comprise cervical problems caused by infections and diseases. Blocked fallopian tubes and scar tissue are also causes of women infertility. Another cause of infertility in women are fibroids, which are basically tumors found in the woman’s uterus. Anatomic problems or having uterine lining that is abnormal are regarded as uterine problems that cause infertility.

Given that infertility has an effect on both women and men, the primary step is finding out which of the partner is suffering from infertility. In a number of cases it could be the two of you having a kind of problem that combined, works against one another. Lots of problems could be solved thus helping you to get past such a condition consequently, the earlier you discover what is the problem the faster you are able to move on. Remember that although a number of problems may be corrected, sporadically the reasons for infertility are not known.

Related posts:

1. Common Reasons for Male Infertility

At times though, some cysts which are not follicles can develop around the ovaries generating problems.

Kinds of Ovarian Cysts
Different kinds of cysts of the ovary are in existence. A number of these grow into large sizes resulting in different uncomfortable symptoms. At times, cysts can cause what is referred to as ovarian cyst infertility.

* Follicular Cyst: This kind of cyst develops out of a follicle, which has not ruptured. At times, follicles do not break open to release the egg. Consequently, these follicles are capable of turning into cysts. These follicular cysts are among the most widespread kind of ovarian cysts and they rarely cause complications or pain.

* Corpus Luteum Cyst: These cysts can at times form after the rupture of follicles. At times, fluids get ensnared inside ruptured follicles, permitting cysts to develop. These cysts more often than not disappear with time; nevertheless, a number of them can develop into larger sizes. If the cysts start to twist or bleed, it can cause extreme pain.

* Endometriomas:  These cysts form in women suffering from endometriosis. The cysts develop as soon as the endometrial tissue appends to the ovaries. The endometriomas are capable of causing pain during sexual intercourse and menstruation.

* Cystademas: Cystademas cysts develop from the cells that constitute the ovary’s surface. They have a propensity of being filled by a sticky or watery fluid plus they can develop into larger sizes.

* Dermoid Cysts:  The Dermoid cysts develop from cells in the ovary responsible for the creation of hair, teeth as well as other kinds of tissues in the body. These kinds of cysts are uncommon, nevertheless can be painful and large.

* Polycystic Ovaries: From time to time, the follicle supposed to discharge your egg does not break thus developing into cysts. Additional cysts start developing and as time goes by they build up filling up the ovaries. This is referred to as polycystic ovarian syndrome which can cause ovarian cyst infertility.

Ovarian Cysts Diagnosis
The annual pelvic examination is generally done to diagnose ovarian cysts. The test requires the physician to feel the reproductive organs to ensure that the ovaries are healthy. The ovarian cysts are like small bumps in the ovaries when felt. An ultrasound can also be used to diagnose ovarian cysts. An ultrasound assists in determining the contents, location and size of the ovarian cysts.

Infertility and Ovarian Cysts
For a large number of women, presence of cysts in the ovaries does not hamper their capability to conceive. Naturally, ovarian cysts stay small; furthermore, they do not obstruct conception or ovulation. On the other hand, a number of cysts are a sign of underlying conditions that may hamper your capability to conceive. If someone has numerous cysts, they may be suffering from a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome that might disrupt the regular ovulation cycle, inhibiting pregnancy. This causes what is referred to as ovarian cyst infertility.

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1. Infertility and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)

Theories Linking Infertility and Stress

Some infertility specialists also show that there is a link between insomnia and stress. They suggest that stressed people often do not get enough sleep. This in turn affects daily hormonal rhythm that is associated with reproduction.

Furthermore, there is another theory that relates problems of fertility and stress in men. This theory suggests that stress can affect the sperm count and sperm structure. Most doctors treat erectile problems using psychological therapy, since they believe that it is caused by undue stress.

Treating Infertility to Treating Stress
Women used in the study were suffering from functional hypothalamic amennhorea (FHA). The menstrual cycle of these women were disrupted for about six months due to gradual reduction in hormones levels which do stimulate ovulation. According to this research, six out of eight women if provided with cognitive-behavior therapy did manage to get complete fertility. However, this study did not cover a wide scope since there are other women who encounter infertility problems due to other reasons apart from ovulatory dysfunction.

Is it that simple?

Accepting this idea that relieving stress can treat infertility makes it worse for couples especially those battling infertility. For them, this becomes a cruel cycle: stress is caused by infertility and the same stress leads to persistent infertility. The couple may even end up blaming themselves for this medical condition. As most scientist claim, human beings cannot heal themselves through positive thinking. In fact, women can still have children after adverse and highly stressful situations such as wars or natural disasters.

Therapy and counseling can assist couples to make informed decisions. The couple also gets some strength from this to help them go through the ordeals related to infertility and stress. However, the big question is, can pregnancy be guaranteed during the therapy sessions by any counselor?

Scientists do not have any convincing proof that infertility and stress do have causal and effectual relationship. Nevertheless, we are aware that a stress-free life helps us to eat better, live better and even sleep better. All this does nourish our bodies. Although tension does not cause infertility and there is no direct relation between infertility and stress, getting to know the techniques and means of relaxing is always helpful for us in order to live a good stead future.

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A number of women experience bodily symptoms related to infertility, whilst others do not exhibit any physical symptoms. As repulsive as these signs might be, they are capable of alerting your physician to the root cause of infertility in you and assist to accelerate the diagnosis.

For many couples, the main symptom of infertility is failing to get pregnant after having unprotected sex for about a year. One can be infertile despite having regular menstrual cycles, healthy sex lives, be usually healthy in addition to lacking risk factors associated with infertility. For other couples, the risk factors and early warning symptoms of infertility give hints of infertility prior to the couple wasting time trying to conceive.

For women less than 30 years of age, a number of professionals will identify couples suffering from infertility and give treatments after trying to conceive for 3 months. For women 35 yrs and above, a number of professionals promote starting treatment or testing after trying to conceive in vain for 6 months.

Nevertheless, a number of men suffering from hormonal problems may notice changes in voice, hair growth patterns, sexual function difficulties or breast enlargement. Women infertility can be indicated by menstrual periods that are irregular or related to problems causing pain during intercourse or menstruation. Infertility might also be associated with a wide variety of emotions experienced by either one or both couples.

The main indication of sterility is the lack of ability for couples to conceive. There might be no extra apparent indicators of infertility.

In a number of cases, an unproductive woman might have irregular menstrual periods. A man who is infertile may have a number of symptoms of infertility and hormonal troubles like changes in sexual function and hair growth.

The reduced ability or the incapability to give birth and have children is infertility. In addition, infertility can be described as the inability to conceive following a year or so of ordinary intercourse without using protection. Infertility that is irreversible is also known sterility.

Infertility in male takes place when the female partner does not become pregnant following a year of trying to conceive. Other symptoms and signs rely on the fundamental cause of infertility in the man.

Infertility consists of an extensive range of bodily and emotional factors. Just about 30%- 40% of every one of the infertility cases is caused by the “male” factor like impotence, retrograde ejaculation, environmental pollutants, hormone deficiency, low sperm count and scars from diseases that are sexually transmitted. Various symptoms of infertility and factors affecting the count of sperms are heavy use of marijuana or using prescription drugs like nitrofurantoin, cimetidine and spironolactone.

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1. Infertility and Endometriosis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments Revealed

Progesterone is vital in supporting the gestation period of any pregnancy; therefore it offers a clear perception of the value of reproductive processes. If there is not enough progesterone a fertilized egg or even a fetus cannot survive.

How Does Progesterone Work?
Knowing exactly how infertility and progesterone affect pregnancy is vital. The moment a woman has ovulated, the levels of progesterone rise rapidly from a level of about 2 to 3 mg in a day up to a mean of 22 to 25 mg in a day. This level peaks at around 30 mg in a day and if there is no fertilization within 10 to 12 days, the level then falls drastically once again. This will result in the shedding of endometrium secretions, otherwise known as menstrual cycle.

Beneficial Effects of Natural Progesterone
Infertility and progesterone may occur the moment natural progesterone is not adequate within the body to allow the egg that has been fertilized to survive. When there is sufficient progesterone within the body, it helps to sustain Secretory endometrium that in turn feeds the ovum resulting in the appearance of an embryo. When the progesterone quantity is high, sex drive is enhanced thus raising the chances of conception.

If your body does not have a sufficient quantity of progesterone, it may be difficult for the body to avoid premature endometrium shedding, resulting in loss of an embryo carried by the female.

Now it is possible to see how infertility and progesterone go hand-in-hand during the conception of your child. Seek advice from your medical doctor and get some blood tests done to evaluate the level of progesterone within the body. This helps in putting the situation into perspective while assisting you to know if it is actually a chemical imbalance that is causing your infertility. Incase you find out that this is the problem; you may work on getting solutions for treatment that is prescribed to you from the doctor.

For plenty of women who are advancing in age, the quantity of progesterone goes down and raising these levels up once again is a vital phase of the medication. Simple treatment could be the answer to infertility and you could eventually have the ability to put your conception plans back on track. Getting all the necessary information about infertility and progesterone is likely to have a great impact on your life.

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In case a couple is having unprotected sex regularly for more than a few months without any success in conceiving, is that not enough signs of infertility? However, this could just be a case of bad timing.

Getting pregnant involves several details that must come together. The following are some of the things that a couple should do before thinking of the next step, going to the doctor.

• Are you tracking the signs that indicate whether ovulation is near? You must do so for you to have productive sex.

• Do you indulge in unprotected sex on several occasions during this short time? If your answer is no, then you are just a victim of bad timing and you do not need medical attention.

The following some signs of infertility that can help you to decide whether you need medical attention from a fertility doctor. If you get any sign that is applicable to your case, make sure you mention them to your doctor during the next appointment.

Missing Your Period
The condition where a woman fails to get their menstrual periods is called amenorrhea. It is natural for any woman to miss their periods such as during pregnancy, before puberty or after menopause. Apart from these times, a woman should have regular monthly menstrual cycles. If this is not the case, then there could be signs of infertility or any other medical problem.

For a woman who takes birth control contraceptives, her period may take few more cycles to become regular again. However, amenorrhea can also be caused by other changes that occur in the glands, organs or hormones that play a role in the menstruation process. These likely causes include:

• When the ovaries fail to work (ovaries are sex organs in females, which ovulate, produce hormones and hold eggs).

• Problems in the spinal cord and brain (central nervous system) or in the pituitary gland (gland in our brain involved in sex hormones, growth and secretion of other hormones.)

• Reproductive organs that are malformed

• Hormonal imbalance caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

• Inadequate body fat (women who have too little fat such as athletes or women suffering from eating disorders, may miss menstruation as the body makes an effort to conserve body energy).

Other Signs of Infertility
If you visit your GYN/OB for a medical checkup, the doctor may check for any of the following problems, which may affect a woman’s fertility:

• Endometriosis, a condition whereby the lining of the uterus is not found inside the uterus but outside.

• Pelvic inflammatory condition is a bacterial infection, which begins inside the uterus but may start to spread to the other reproductive organs.

• Stenosis is a condition where the cervix narrows due to tumors or scarring. (Cervix is the lower uterus part that protrudes to the vagina).

• Fibroids (are growths which may occur in the uterus).

Any of the above can be thought as possible signs of infertility, which may call for medical attention.

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1. Major Signs of Male Infertility

Besides the psychoactive consequences of Marijuana, there are some biological effects as well. It is likely to be harmful to the reproductive system of humans. Scientific studies have shown that Marijuana could have a temporary negative effect on the fertility of both male and female. Therefore, it is more harmful for adolescents because this is the time when their sexual and general physical development is going on rapidly. No proof has yet been found concerning the damage on chromosomes by Marijuana.

Effects of Marijuana on Male Fertility
Marijuana brings about an obstruction in the mobility of sperm thus reducing sperm count. There is also a significant reduction in the seminal fluid volume. Once more, THC is said to be the main cause of the changes. Some researchers claim that Marijuana may cause some alterations during sperm hyper activation process. The sperm that is sampled from Marijuana smokers tends to move too quickly in the early phase of swimming, thus it gets burned out before fertilization occurs and this induces temporary infertility. However, the effects are not long term. This means that infertility could be reversed if Marijuana use is stopped within thirty days.

Just as in the case of tobacco, Marijuana has certain links to DNA breakage of sperms. These breakages are directly proportional to the frequency of smoking. The more times that one smokes the higher the chances of causing harm to sperm. Although it has been said Marijuana is not as harmful as tobacco, it is able to be metabolized within the liver causing a rise in estrogen levels. This increase consequently could cause an unusual sperm count and movement. Marijuana could further lower the seminal fluid’s antioxidant potential and this has a bad effect on the sperm.

Effects of Marijuana on Fertility of Women
Just as in the case of other drugs, Marijuana has an impact on the placenta. Although it has not been proven whether there are any effects on the fetus or fertility in women, it is recommended that women should keep away from all forms of drugs such as this. Infertility and Marijuana use in women has some relation where, the use of the drug could result in premature births or babies born with low weight.

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