Infertility in Male and Females

Infertility and its causes

By Dr. Nutan Pakhare

Infertility means when woman fails to get pregnant in spite of having unprotected intercourse consistently for one year. There are number of reasons and factors attributed to the infertility related to male, female or both. It has been observed that most of the women suffer more than man due to the infertility issues. Socially, women are always questioned and accused more than the male part regarding the fertility issues. Even her own thoughts make her feel guilty, stressful and depressed. Hence yoga can help her to change her own perception and face this issue with courage. Instead of getting worried which in turns add to hormonal imbalance, menstrual problem added to infertility. It is important for the couple to understand the relevant factors and address the causes under the expert guidance.

“Yoga as system of preventive exercise is simply marvelous as it keeps the whole nervous and glandular mechanism at fittest. Impotency can be invariably cured and certain types of sterility, especially in women, can easily be removed” (Swami Kuvalyananda biography chapter 7 – Yoga mimansa June 1924)

Causes of infertility – Causes in Male -:

  • Pretesticular – Genetic abnormalities

  • Testicular – Abnormal sperm production in the testes due to various diseases like

    varicocele, cancer STI like gonorrhea, chlamydia or diabetes or structural deformity like

    blockages in testes or childhood infection like mumps etc.

  • Post testicular- Obstructions in the pathway of sperms

    Lifestyle disorders –Hypertension, Obesity, Diabetes (HOD) & erectile dysfunction etc. Addictions like alcohol, smoking, steroid medicines?

  • Environmental cause- Overheating testes due to exposure to heat like in saunas bath, working in chemical industries or trauma etc.

  • Marital and Psychological Stress–Premature ejaculation, stress, anxieties, poor libido

 

Infertility & Impotency
Basic Tests 

  • Physical examination –To check varicocele or infections

  • Pathological test – CBC, ESR, HBA1C, Hormones-Testosterone levels

  • Semen Analysis –To check sperm quantity, quality and motility

  • Scrotal Ultrasound –To detect blockages

Treatment according to modern science includes surgery depending on the underline cause hormone or antibiotics.

Assisted Reproductive Technology –In Utero Insemination (IUI) or In Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Causes in Female –

Mithyacharen tah strinam pradushetn artvanech I
Jayante beejadoshat daivatcha shrunu tah prithakh II” (Ch.Chi 30/7)

According to Ayurveda there are many causes for infertility in female and associated risk factors are as follows:

  • Mithy-Achara means not irregular lifestyle & behaviors & not following codes of conducts mentioned in rajaswala paricharya

  • Mithya – Ahara means irregular food habits causes poor nutrition consequently results in metabolic disorders.

  • Vegadharana – Controlling natural urges & delaying urination or defecation.

  • Anidra – Irregular sleeping habits develops insomnia & disturbs circadian rhythm. Above causes are consequently results in structural and functional deformity in female reproductive system mentioned below.

  • Failure to ovulate or menstruate regularly due to hormonal dysfunctions or Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome

  • Abnormality in structure like small cervix or T-shape uterus, fibrosis or infection in fallopian tube or thinning of lining of endometrium

  • Uterine pathology – endometriosis or polyps or tumors or fibroid in the uterus

Infertility & Impotency

  • Exposure to radiations or any other addictions like alcohol, smoking, infections like Sexual transmitted diseases etc. ID.

  • Conflicts anxiety, stress marital psychosomatic stress

  • Genetic problems – Poor embryo quality leads to miscarriage or can abnormality require

    medical termination of pregnancy

  • Delay in marriage and conception- Woman is born with limited resrve stock of eggs.Also

    the quality of the oocytes declines with aging when increasing makes for conception difficult.

  • Idiopathic Infertility –In 30-40 % cases, No cause of infertility is detected neither in male

    nor in female.

  • Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) –These are advanced techniques to help the

    couple get conception.They included

    • IVF

    • Donor’s egg & Donors sperms

    • 3rd party reproduction (surrogacy)

    • Ovulation induction

    • Artificial Insemination –IUI

    • ICSI

      IVF and ICSI involves, to induce Fertilization of sperm and ovum outside the body in a laboratory embryo at early stage which is then transferred into the uterus of woman.The steps of the procedure

      • Ovarian stimulation

      • Ovum preparation and pick up

      • Sperm preparation and pick up

      • Fertilization through IVF OR ICSI and Embryo culture

      • Implantation of an embryo inside uterus or stored as a cryo preservation

 

Infertility & Impotency

Couple Psychological counseling – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Empathetic listening & training is necessary in developing self- awareness and problem solving attitude in couple to enhance and nurture relationships while undergoing this advance treatment.

  • Counselling for infertility treatment is essential & helps in decision making for couple -:To reduces conflicts in couple

  • To perceive situations in correct manner and develop ability to cope up

    it with courage.

  • To Increase the patience and tolerance of couple during multiple visits

    to the hospital

  • To Improves mental health and education.