Infertility

Who wouldn’t want to have a healthy baby boy or girl? Most women would do anything to have a successful and healthy pregnancy and delivery. However, there are some parents who won’t have that chance. This is because they might have infertility problems including issues related to sperm count that can affect fertility and health care. What if your wife won’t be able to get pregnant? What if you can’t conceive naturally?

Source: pexels.com

Infertility – Not Just A Woman’s Problem

Infertility is a devastating word and scenario when it affects the reproductive system. Women who were diagnosed with infertility but yearn for kids often feel depressed. It is a health topic that needs to be understood. One should understand, though, that there exists male infertility aside from female infertility. In this article, primary infertility in women will be further discussed.

Learn more about infertility here.

What To Know About Infertility

Motherhood is a milestone in life that women look forward to in general. However, some women struggle with infertility. There is still so much stigma surrounding infertility. Because of this stigma, women suffer from emotional pain and trauma from conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, hormonal disorders, ovulation disorders, eating disorders, primary ovarian insufficiency, etc. which might be one of the risk factors for their infertility.

If you have just received an infertility diagnosis and are going through this difficult situation, know that you are not alone. Seeking professional counseling on reproductive health, fertility or infertility treatment, assisted reproductive technology art, or reproductive medicine is one way to cope with infertility.

Infertility is a medical condition that affects both male and female reproductive systems. However women suffer from the stigma of infertility more than men. Women are more vulnerable to suffering trauma, depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety due to infertility. Indeed, infertility does result in poor mental health.

An infertile woman when she and her partner have been unsuccessful in their attempts to conceive for a year or more. This means that there is a disorder in the female reproductive system  (woman’s uterus and fallopian tubes, follicle-stimulating hormone, endometrial tissue, etc.) or other health problems (early menopause, pelvic infection, very painful periods, etc.)

According to the world health organization, men’s infertility may be caused by low sperm count or impaired sperm production, sexually transmitted infection from unprotected sex, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, or you may have a genetic problem like cystic fibrosis that could affect sperm production and semen analysis quality.

What Are The Causes Of Infertility?

  • PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
  • Ovulation issues
  • Implantation issues
  • Endometriosis
  • Absent menstrual periods
  • Ovulation problems cause infertility
  • Scar tissue in one of the reproductive organs
  • Blocked fallopian tubes
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Sexually transmitted infections from unprotected sexual intercourse

Infertility can cause serious emotional damage to women who want to have children. It is a serious reproductive condition that affects 1 out of every 6 couples.

Infertility (Male And Female Infertility) Is a Real Medical Condition

Since infertility is a medical condition, your physician can make some fertility treatment suggestions. Doctors treat infertility by prescribing fertility drugs and other medications for medical procedures such as intrauterine insemination. You may also be asked to follow strict health protocols.

However, these solutions are not cheap. Pills for sterility, artificial insemination, and other fertility treatments and disease control can break the bank. Because there are other factors at play, these treatments also cannot guarantee to improve your fertility.

Source: pexels.com

Assessing The Other Factors Concerning Infertility

Even couples who get tested for sterility can pass a medical test and still not conceive for more than a year. Extreme stress and anxiety with the expectation to conceive can also affect male and female fertility.

If your stress and anxiety build up, your physician might refer you to a mental health professional to properly assess the other factors affecting fertility.

The Mental Health Issues And Health And Developmental Problems Associated With Infertility

You may need to seek a professional who has a background in reproductive health and infertility counseling and regularly deals with women’s reproductive issues. It can be beneficial to seek their advice to learn how to cope with the distress and trauma of infertility.

Your infertility is negatively affecting your life if you have the following:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Irregular or lack of sleep
  • Loss of interest in your usual hobbies
  • Suicidal thoughts

Many problems that women face with infertility are due to the narrative of building a family.

Source: pexels.com

Infertility can also cause stress and tension in a relationship. When there are expectations for the woman to conceive, infertility can cause misunderstandings. The man might pin all the blame on the woman, when in fact the male reproductive system may be dysfunctional as well, as there exists male factor infertility. Both might even have different opinions on how to treat male and female infertility and how several factors can affect fertility.

It does not help that some people place a lot of value on fertility and having children. They can be nosy about family affairs, which puts unnecessary pressure on the relationship. The inability to conceive, in turn, can feel like an invisible loss.

Seeking Proper Counseling For Your Infertility

There are many challenges to face when trying to overcome anxiety and depression caused by infertility. It can cause stress for both you and your partner, and it could be hard to make a compromise.

A sterility counselor can give you sound suggestions and advice even while you are undergoing fertility treatments. This way, you can address your concerns (whether it be male infertility or female infertility) and decide when to take the next step.

How Counseling For Infertility Becomes Beneficial

It is much harder to deal with grief without anyone to talk to. Having a counselor helps you feel that you are not alone. These professionals will give you a safe space to communicate your infertility issues and concerns effectively. Letting out the feelings and thoughts that you have helps manage your stress and anxiety.

Fertility issues cause not only physical and emotional stress. This condition can also drain you financially. Your counselor can help you decide where to go next. Some couples may consider adoption, or some may not. Some may opt to continue medical treatment (intracytoplasmic sperm injection icsi or in vitro fertilization through assisted reproductive technologies), and some may not.

Fertility Treatment

It all depends on what the couple wants. What’s important is to make a decision that you and your partner will both be happy about. What’s crucial is that you work together on infertility treatment.

A counselor might mention that your feelings of guilt may stem from social norms, such as expecting a woman to conceive a child. You may have grown up with this belief throughout your life and have set the ability to bear and rear children as the basis of your identity.

Not meeting this expectation might make you feel defective and incapable. You may feel like you have lost the opportunity to nurture and care for a child. You may think that you will never measure up to your mother. These thoughts and feelings are intrusive and can consume you. Your counselor can help you understand that your medical condition does not define you. Your counselor will help you realize that your value and worth as a woman do not come from motherhood alone.

Seek A Counselor For Infertility And Ovulation Problems

When you plan to achieve a milestone in life, it is important to assess your expectations to avoid a serious health problem. Having children is a huge commitment, and many people center their lives around that future.

To love and care for another person more than yourself is a gift. However, sometimes things do not always go our way. We have no control over the future. We need to learn how to be content with ourselves.

Seeking advice from an infertility counselor or even the Society for reproductive   medicine is the best decision you can make for yourself and your partner.  Coupled with medical health, your counselor can help you choose a healthy way to cope with fertility issues or can give you details about  vitro fertilization, fertilization ivf, and vitro fertilization ivf. This way, you can come to terms with your condition. You are a step closer to healing, forgiving yourself, and living worry-free.

Infertility FAQs

What exactly causes infertility?

Infertility is typically caused by various factors affecting the reproductive systems of both males and females, such as hormonal imbalances, structural abnormalities, or issues with egg or sperm production, ultimately hindering successful conception. In males, factors like low sperm count or quality can impede fertilization, while in females, issues like irregular ovulation or blocked fallopian tubes can pose challenges to fertility.

What are the signs of infertility?

Signs of infertility include irregular menstrual cycles, sexual function issues in men, and conditions like PCOS. Assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), are options for couples facing infertility challenges.

What are the causes of female infertility?

Do infertile women have a normal menstrual cycle?

Can infertility be cured?

How can I boost my fertility?

What are ways to prevent infertility?

How do I know if I’m not suffering from infertility?

Which fruit is good for fertility?

What age does your fertility drop?

Can stress cause infertility?

At what age can a woman be infertile?