According to various studies, about 1 million people in India struggle each year to conceive a child. The percentage of couples who are unable to conceive in the United States ranges from 10% to 15%. An infertile couple is defined as a couple who is unable to have a child despite having frequent, planned, unprotected sexual intercourse for at least one year.
Infertility is no longer a stigma in today’s society because it is a treatable ailment. Medical technology has grown at such a quick pace that there are now easy and effective treatments available to assist a couple in overcoming whatever the underlying reason of their infertility may be.
How to identify Infertility?
When a couple is unable to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse, they are generally diagnosed with infertility. Infertility has no “symptoms” because it is not an illness, but rather a medical condition that can be treated with certain medical procedures.
Do you need to see a doctor?
We don’t recommend seeing a doctor if you’ve been trying to conceive for less than a year. However, if you have any of the following symptoms, we recommend that you seek medical advice.
For women:
- If you’re 35 or older and have been trying for at least 6 months.
- If your menstrual cycles are erratic and have minimal flow.
- If your periods are painful.
- If you’ve ever encountered fertility issues when trying to conceive your first child.
- If you have had multiple miscarriages or have had endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.
- If you’ve had cancer treatment.
- If your fallopian tubes are blocked, you should see a doctor.
- If your egg reserve is low
For men:
- If your sperm count is low or non-existent.
- If you’ve experienced testicular or prostate problems in the past and got treatment for them.
- If you’ve had cancer treatment.
- If your testicles are little or you notice irritation in your scrotum.
- If there is a history of infertility in your family.
Is there anything you can do to make things better?
You don’t have to give up your aspirations of having a child just because you’ve been diagnosed with infertility. Some infertile couples will be able to conceive with minor medical intervention, while others will require medical assistance such as IVF/ICSI.
What are the risk factors for infertility?
Alcohol, tobacco, and smoking can all make it difficult to conceive. Men’s sperm counts are reduced and erectile dysfunction is caused by smoking. Alcohol has an effect on sperm count as well as sperm motility. Hormonal imbalance can also be caused by a sedentary lifestyle and weight problems. This can harm both men and women’s reproductive systems.
What can you do?
Check your timing: If you haven’t already, plan sex around the period of ovulation to increase your chances of getting pregnant. Regular intercourse, on alternate days or three times a week, greatly increases your chances of becoming pregnant.
Keep in mind that the days leading up to your ovulation are most fertile. Ovulation normally happens in the middle of the menstrual cycle. A cycle lasts roughly 28 days for most women.
For Men:
If you want to improve your odds of having a child, you can do the following:
- Tobacco and drug usage should be avoided.
- Don’t overindulge in alcoholic beverages.
- Don’t smoke.
- Hot pools and baths should be avoided since they can decrease sperm production and motility.
- Industrial and environmental contaminants can influence sperm production, therefore avoid them.
- Exercise on a daily basis to boost the quality of your sperm.
- Balanced diet
For Women:
If you want to become pregnant, we suggest that you take the following steps to improve your chances:
- Don’t smoke.
- Use of alcohol and drugs should be avoided.
- Caffeine consumption should be reduced. Caffeine inhibits the production of hormones, lowering your chances of becoming pregnant.
- Make an effort to move around. This should also help you regain control of your menstrual cycle.
- Maintain a close eye on your weight. Because a BMI imbalance influences hormone synthesis, maintaining a healthy weight should be advantageous.
