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A woman is born with the eggs while a man's sperm is produced during reproductive years. With the advancing age the eggs reduce in their quantity that diminishes fertility slowly. The reproduction cycle should be synchronized in both male and female for a successful pregnancy.

What is the Difference between Infertility and Sterility?

Sterility is often taken as a synonym to infertility, though they both mean disability to bear a child yet they have a very basic difference. Infertility mostly point at the inability to conceive, which may be because of various internal or external factors. Sterility means when the person is unable to reproduce sexually, this mostly is because of problem in the reproductive system.

Infertility might exist because of certain abnormalities that might not be related to the reproductive system. At times infertility exist because of stress, emotional shocks or side effect of any treatment, but sterility is very restricted to the reproductive system like damage in ovaries or varicose veins in the testicles might cause sterility.

Are there Symptoms for Infertility?

Infertility symptoms vary and there are no rigid symptoms that can easily distinguish infertility. Infertility symptoms can be seen in a female if she has:

• Irregular periods
• Absence of periods
• Weight gain
• Pelvic pain
• Chronic acne

The above symptoms though are taken, as signs of infertility yet at times there are no significant symptoms for infertility.

Cause of Infertility

There are various factors that lead to infertility. Certain common factors are briefly discussed below:

Thyroid

Thyroid problem in females is one of the factors associated with infertility, if the secretion of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) is high or low (hypothyroidism), it can interrupt cycles. Irregular periods therefore cause infertility.

Diabetes Mellitus

High level of blood sugar can lead to weight gain or loss, anxiety and hormonal imbalance in the body. The hormonal imbalance leads to infertility.

Ovarian Factors

Ovarian factors that results in infertility are listed below:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

High amount of secretion of androgens, which is more of male hormone than female hormone can result in infertility. This causes most of the menstrual period disorder. Absence of periods or infrequent periods is the symptom of POS. The female may develop facial hairs, acne and obesity if suffering from POS.

Ovarian Cyst

The sac of fluid that grows in ovary is termed as an ovarian cyst. At times the cyst does not respond to medical treatment or goes off by itself then it can lead to infertility. The cyst then needs to be surgically removed.

Early Menopause

It is also termed as premature ovarian failure and may be caused by STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) Tuberculosis and mumps. Early weakening of follicles is the main reason for early menopause at about the age of 40.

Tubal or Peritoneal Factors

There are some of the tubal factors as follows

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a state when fragments of the endometrial lining are implanted in other areas of the pelvic instead of traveling from uterus to vagina. It blocks the eggs passage and does not allow release of the egg. It causes burning and inflammation with painful periods and leads to infertility.

Implantation Failure

It is also termed as Luteal Phase defect where the ovum fails to implant in the endometrium. This state leads to frequent miscarriages.

Other Factors

The other factors include the following

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Infection caused by various bacteria in the reproductive region causes PID. The frequency of these infections causes scarring and abscess or tubal damage that causes infertility.

Benign Fibroids

These are one of the most common reasons for infertility in women. This non-cancerous tumor or fibroids that either blocks the fallopian tubes or grow in the uterus and occupying space, which does not allow the growth of the egg leading to either miscarriages or infertility.

Medication for Cancer Treatment

Radiation and chemotherapy might damage the reproductive system and cause infertility. Therefore a women going through the treatment and want to conceive should take proper consultation from the physician.

How is Infertility Diagnosed?

Infertility is diagnosed by complete physical examination and medical history. Several preliminary test and laboratory test can be done for proper analysis and requirement.

• Hormonal test to determine the low or high hormones secretion.
• Blood test for thyroid and for prolactin levels.
• Ultrasound and Sonography are infertility tests to check uterus, ovaries, fibroids, ovarian cysts and tumors, and if any obstructions in the urinary tract
• Hysteroscopy is also an infertility test that checks for the presence of endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic scars or blockage in the fallopian tubes.
• Hysterosalpingography can check for the possible blockage in the fallopian tubes or abnormality in uterus. A tube is inserted in the cervix and the dye is passed in the fallopian tubes and uterus and then X-ray is taken. Often tiny blockage can be removed using this procedure.
• Laproscopy can check for any abnormalities in the pelvis area and can be used to remove abnormal tissues in the pelvis. A cut is made in the lower abdomen and the tubular microscope inserted to look more closely at the womb, Fallopian tubes and ovaries.
• Progesterone and infertility are combined together with coloscopy to detect for any abnormality in the ovaries.

Continue to: Best Infertility Treatment Procedure