Many people really do want to have kids and raise a family. If this is a strong desire, it can be really disappointing if you find out that for some reason or another, it’s impossible for you to conceive and that something is preventing the normal process.
Infertility is a lot more rampant than people think, but somehow, it’s very easy for people who haven’t suffered through it or know anyone who has to believe it’s not that common or not that serious. Statistics surrounding infertility tell a totally different story, revealing that it could be a bit of a problem for a lot of people. Knowledge about infertility is very important and the next few questions will explain things a lot better.
What exactly is Infertility?
Basically, infertility is an irregularity with the normal functions of the body’s reproductive system. Most medical professionals agree that the inability to conceive after about a year of regular unprotected sex is infertility. Sometimes, this figure varies and only a doctor can definitively say if a person has infertility problems.
How Can It Be Treated?
There are two most common treatments for fertility. They include Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). IUI directly involves the injection of healthy and viable sperm into the uterus during the ovulation period. One common method is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), which basically describes a procedure where a single sperm cell is directly injected into an egg to fertilise it. In IVF, eggs are taken from a woman’s ovaries, externally fertilized, and then returned into the uterus.
Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Private Healthcare offers consultation and diagnosis for both IVF and ICSI treatment and will walk you through everything necessary to solve infertility issues.
Does this Problem Only Affect Women?
No. Infertility can affect both men and women. In men, a few factors can cause infertility, including hormone imbalances and also varicocele, which is basically swelling of the veins in the testicles. Age is also another factor for men. In women, it could be caused by a few things, including ovulation problems, endometriosis, unhealthy bodyweight, and many more.
When is a Woman Most Fertile?
Generally, ovulation is two weeks prior to the start of a woman’s period. So, the most fertile a woman can get is both the day before ovulation and the day itself. The recommended calculation to figure out the best day(s) is to deduct 14 from the average number of days a woman’s cycle lasts. A cycle is the number of days from when one period begins to when the next one does. This means that if a cycle is 30 days then the most fertile day is day 16.
Do Hot Tubs Really Affect Men?
Sperm can easily be damaged when exposed to high temperatures. It’s important to note that the external position of the scrotum helps to keep the sperm as cool as possible, so if you’re trying to conceive, the man must avoid all sources of heat to the scrotum including but not limited to hot tubs and saunas.
Most of the time, with specific treatment, infertility is quite easily treated. However, you must seek professional medical advice and do necessary tests to achieve the best results.