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Fertility PDF Print E-mail
Written by Linda   
Monday, 11 February 2008

Fertility
Want to be pregnant but as much as you try nothing is happening?
Maybe this article can help.


There is plenty of evidence to show that caffeine, particularly in the form of coffee, decreases fertility.
Drinking as little as one cup of coffee a day can halve your chances of conceiving. One study showed that problems with sperm: sperm count, motility and abnormalities, increase with the number of cups of coffee consumed each day.
Once again, it's important to eliminate all caffeine-containing food and drinks for at least three months before trying to conceive.
That includes colas, chocolate, black teas and coffee, among other things.

What can cause fertility problems?

Ovulation problems
Failure to ovulate is the cause in about 3 in 10 cases. In some women this is a permanent problem. In some women it is intermittent when some months ovulation occurs, and some months it doesn't.

There are various causes of ovulation problems which include:

Early menopause.
Polycystic ovary syndrome - which can also cause excess hair growth, acne, menstrual problems and is associated with obesity.
Hormone problems. For example, too much prolactin, or too little thyroxine.
Being very underweight or overweight can affect your hormone balance which can affect ovulation.
In particular, women with anorexia nervosa do not ovulate.
Excessive exercise such as regular marathon running can affect your hormone balance which can affect ovulation.
A side-effect from some medicines is a rare cause. Medicines that sometimes cause this are anti-inflammatory painkillers, some chemotherapy medicines, and cannabis.
Insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides may be a factor in some cases.
Various other problems with the ovary such as ovarian cysts and certain genetic problems

Fallopian tube or uterine problems
These are the cause in about 2 in 10 cases, and include the following.

Endometriosis causes about 1 in 20 cases of infertility, Very briefly, tissue that lines the uterus (endometrium) is found outside of the uterus.
It is 'trapped' in the pelvic area and can affect the ovaries, uterus, and nearby structures.
It often causes lower abdominal pain and/or painful periods.
Previous infection of the uterus and fallopian tube (pelvic inflammatory disease) is another common cause.
This can cause scarring and damage which can affect fertility. For example, scar tissue may block the egg (ovum) from travelling down the fallopian tubes. Another leaflet deals with this condition in more detail.
Previous surgery to the fallopian tubes or uterus can cause scarring and damage.
Large fibroids or cysts may cause problems.

Male problems
These occur in about 2 in 10 cases. Some men are born with testes that do not make any sperm, or very few sperm.
Some are born without a vas deferens.

Some men make less sperm than normal (a 'low sperm count') for a variety of reasons which can reduce fertility. These include:

Certain hormone problems.
Current or past infection of the testes.
Tumours of the testes.
Side-effects of some medicines and drugs. These include: sulphasalazine, nitrofurantoin, tetracyclines, cimetidine, colchicine, allopurinol, some chemotherapy drugs, cannabis, cocaine and anabolic steroids.
Regular excess heat (regular saunas, hot baths, etc) is possibly a cause.
Environmental factors may be a factor in some men. For example, a lot of exposure to chemicals, x-rays, or heavy metals.
Varicocele may affect fertility. A varicocele is common and is like a 'varicose vein' in the scrotum (the skin that covers the testes).
Unknown
No cause can be found in about 3 in 10 cases of infertility.

Age is a factor
Older women tend to be less fertile than younger women. The 'fall off' of fertility seems to be greatest once you are past your middle 30's.
For women aged 35-39 the chance of conceiving is about half that of women aged 19-26.

SOME REASONS FOR FERTILITY PROBLEMS.

Alcohol will affect both you and your partner.
In fact, drinking any alcohol at all can reduce your fertility by half - and the more you drink, the less likely you are to conceive.
One study showed that women who drank less than 5 units of alcohol a week (equal to five glasses of wine) were twice as likely to get pregnant within six-months compared with those who drank more.

Research has also shown that drinking alcohol causes a decrease in sperm count, an increase in abnormal sperm and a lower proportion of motile sperm.
Alcohol also inhibits the body's absorption of nutrients such as zinc, which is one of the most important minerals for male fertility.

As difficult as it may seem, you should eliminate alcohol from your diets for at least three months in order to give yourself the best possible chance of conceiving.

 

Smoking has definitely been linked with infertility in women.
It can even bring on an early menopause, which is a particularly important consideration for older women who may be trying to beat the clock.
Smoking can decrease sperm count in men, making the sperm more sluggish, and it can increase the number of abnormal sperm.
With men, the effects on fertility are increased with the number of cigarettes.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 27 May 2008 )
   
 
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