Infertility is a very well-known medical condition across the globe, and both women and men can have infertility. By definition, infertility is viewed as the inability of a couple to conceive a child for longer than one year, although they are practicing unprotected, regular sexual intercourse. 

There are many different signs of infertility, and this article provides detailed explanations and information which will be of significant help in case you suspect you have issues with fertility. 

There are different causes of infertility, and there is a variety of tests that can be used to diagnose this condition in both women and men. It is essential to look for an expert infertility specialist in Doral; you can find different options if you research correctly. Gynecology clinics in Doral offer treatments and diagnoses based on various approaches, so you have many options to choose from based on your specific needs. 

What Types of Infertility Are There? 

When a patient comes to evaluate their fertility, their general health is assessed, as well as their medical history. Based on that, potential infertility can be diagnosed, and it is usually divided into two different types: 

  • Primary infertility is diagnosed in couples who previously never conceived a child and did not use any offered type of contraception. 
  • Secondary infertility is a diagnosis that is given to couples who already have a success story, i.e., they already have a child but are not able to conceive the second time. A secondary infertility diagnosis is given under the condition that the previous pregnancy occurred without any help from fertility doctors and treatments. 

There are three types of infertility when it comes to its nature of it:

  • Male infertility, i.e., problems with the reproductive system of the male partner
  • Female infertility, i.e., problems with the reproductive system of the female partner
  • Unexplained infertility, i.e., where the cause of infertility is not known 

Signs of Infertility 

Sad Couple After Negative Pregnancy Test Result, Sitting on Couch at Home

We can differentiate signs of infertility in women and men. Below you can find two lists that might help you with detecting these signs and contacting your chosen doctor for a consultation. 

Signs in women are:

  • Changes when it comes to the menstrual cycle and/or ovulation 
  • Heavier bleeding than usual
  • Lighter bleeding than usual 
  • Absence of periods, i.e., your monthly period simply stops occurring
  • Irregular periods where your period comes at a different time each month
  • Painful periods which include pain in the lower back, pelvic pain, cramps, etc.
  • Acne and skin issues
  • Changes when it comes to sexual drive
  • Hair growing on the chest, chin, and lips
  • Hair loss 
  • Gaining weight 
  • Pain during intercourse

Signs in men vary because they heavily depend on the leading cause of infertility. However, they can be:

  • Hair growth changes 
  • Sexual desire changes
  • Issues with the testicles, which include pain, swelling, and lumps
  • Firmness in the testicles
  • Problems with ejaculation and erections 

What Are the Causes of Infertility?

As with the symptoms, the causes of infertility can be divided between men and women. It is important to note that sometimes the causes can be unknown, so all of the mentioned ones here are definitely not all possible causes of this condition.

Women:

When women are infertile, the main reason is that their ovulation cycle is atypical, meaning that their ovaries do not release eggs. The main culprit for this is polycystic ovary syndrome. Aside from PCOS, other issues can have an effect when it comes to infertility in women, such as:

  • Issues with the fallopian tubes, whose role is to carry the egg from the ovaries to the womb. Often the tubes are blocked by scar tissue. 
  • Smoking is a potential cause of infertility in women, as well as other lifestyle choices such as alcohol consumption, exposure to different chemicals, etc.
  • Issues with weight (be it that you are under or overweight)
  • Different issues with the implantation of the egg in the uterus 
  • Cervical mucus sometimes damages the sperm or does not allow access to the sperm. 
  • Age is an important factor because, in women, it is very rare to become pregnant after the age of 45
  • Irregular menstrual cycle
  • Hormonal imbalance 
  • Endometriosis 
  • Fibroids in the womb 
  • Ovarian cancer 
  • Medical history 
  • Genetic problems 

Men:

In regards to infertility in men, problems with the sperm are the main reason why men are diagnosed with this condition. The issues can include:

  • Low count when it comes to sperm, i.e., you have too little or no sperm 
  • The sperm does not move as fast as it is supposed to, and this condition is named low sperm motility 
  • Your sperm has an abnormal form
  • Blockage of sperm ducts 
  • Injuries to testicles that lower the sperm count 
  • Consumption of alcohol and tobacco which reduces sperm count 
  • Age (men over 40 years of age have a lower level of fertility) 
  • Genetic disorders 
  • Cancers of the reproductive system 

Diagnosis 

Patient Couple Consulting With Doctor or Psychologist on Family Men and Women’s Medical Healthcare Therapy

Diagnosing infertility is done differently when it comes to women and men. For the male partner, the tests which can be done include blood tests, analysis of the semen, karyotyping (to check for any chromosome abnormalities), ultrasound of the testicles, testicular biopsy, chromosomal array (more advanced check of issues with genetic material) and alike.

In women, the chosen doctor can do blood tests, progesterone testing, a transvaginal ultrasound, laparoscopy, and hysterosalpingogram. 

Hysterosalpingogram is a procedure that checks the fallopian tubes, so the doctor can determine if they are blocked or if there are any polyps and fibroids present. Laparoscopy is used to detect damage to the pelvic area, ovaries, and uterus, while the other tests are more or less familiar to all women who attend regular gynecological checkups. 

Treatment for Infertility 

As with any other condition, the treatment plan for infertility is created depending on the exact diagnosis of this condition. As the causes vary, so do the treatment options, especially if the options are tailored according to the gender of the patient. 

The best outcome is achieved if the treatment plan is created to suit each person individually, based on their particular diagnosis, needs, and wishes. Below are some options that couples have used in the past to deal with infertility so that you might find something suitable for your condition, but please consult your chosen doctor first and discuss the options with them. 

  • Fertility drugs and antioxidants for boosting the reproductive system
  • Surgery for women to remove fallopian tube blockages or fibroids 
  • Surgery for men to treat veins in the scrotum 
  • For more severe cases, the option is intrauterine insemination 
  • In vitro fertilization (IVF)
  • Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection 
  • Sperm donors
  • Egg donors
  • Surrogates 

Let Us Help You!

Infertility as a diagnosis can be very heavy and stressful to both partners. Regardless of whether the male or female partner is the one suffering from this condition, for couples who want to start a family, this is never an easy piece of news. Our clinic has an expert team that handles cases like these and has abundant experience in helping couples successfully conceive. Feel free to contact us and let us help you deal with this condition because options exist; you just need to find the right one for you. Call us!