Infertility is a fertility disorder that makes it difficult for couples to have children. The causes can vary, ranging from an unhealthy lifestyle to certain diseases. To make sure a person is infertile or not, a fertility test can be done.
Infertility is a fertility disorder that makes it difficult for a man or woman to have children. This condition can be influenced by various things, ranging from an unhealthy lifestyle to certain diseases. However, the causes of infertility in men and women are generally different.
In men, this condition can be caused by problems with the process of releasing semen, low sperm count and quality, or abnormal sperm movement and shape.
Meanwhile, women who experience infertility can be caused by various disorders, such as problems in the reproductive organs, hormonal disorders, or infections.
If a couple, either male or female, is infertile, their chances of having children will be lower. Therefore, to find out the cause of infertility that you or your partner may be experiencing, it is necessary to have an examination or fertility test by a doctor.
Infertility and Fertility Criteria in Men and Women
Infertility or infertility is a disorder in the reproductive system that causes failure in the process of pregnancy, even though you have had sexual intercourse without contraception within 12 months.
Infertility can occur in couples who have previously had children, but can also occur in couples who have not had children at all.
To be able to create a pregnancy, both male and female partners must be in a healthy and fertile condition. The following are the criteria for fertility in men and women:
Fertility criteria in men
Healthy male reproductive organs are characterized by the ability of the testes to produce healthy sperm cells and in sufficient quantities.
When a man ejaculates, these sperm cells must be able to move into the female reproductive organs to fertilize an egg. After the egg is fertilized, pregnancy will occur.
Criteria for fertility in women
Healthy female reproductive organs are characterized by ovaries or ovaries that are able to release eggs. The process of releasing the egg occurs during the fertile period or ovulation. When ovulation occurs, the released egg will enter the fallopian tube or fallopian tube to be carried to the uterus.
At this time, if fertilization occurs by sperm, the egg will develop into an ovum or fetus. Over time, the ovum will grow and develop into a fetus until it is time to be born.
Factors That Can Affect Body Fertility Conditions
There are several factors that can affect male and female fertility, including:
1. You're in vain
Women have the highest fertility rates in their 20s to early 30s and decline when they are 35 or older. Infertility that occurs in women aged 35 years or older, is most likely due to a low number and quality of eggs or a health problem.
Meanwhile, male fertility rates generally decline when they reach the age of 40.
2. Pregnancy history
Pregnancy history is one of the factors that can affect a woman's fertility rate. Some pregnancy history, such as complications that have been experienced during pregnancy, history of delivery by caesarean section, or miscarriage, can reduce a woman's fertility.
3. Sexual intercourse
How often you and your partner have sex, can determine the chances of pregnancy. There are studies that show that the chances of pregnancy can increase if a partner regularly has sex every 1 or 2 days.
The chance of getting pregnant will be higher if intercourse is done when a woman is entering her fertile period.
4. The period of time after removing the contraceptive device
The assumption about the use of contraceptives will affect fertility rates is not true. When a woman stops using contraceptives, her fertility will return to normal.
However, the ability of women to get pregnant again after stopping using contraceptives may vary, especially if the contraceptives used are birth control pills and injectable contraceptives. Some may take several months or even up to 1 year.
In addition, the use of hormonal contraceptives can also cause irregular menstrual cycles, making it more difficult for women to determine their fertile period.
5. Medical history
Decreased fertility in men and women can also be caused by certain diseases. In men, infertility can be caused by many things, ranging from infections, hormonal disorders, genetic disorders, to reproductive organ disorders.
In women, fertility problems can be caused by hormonal disorders, infections, pelvic inflammation, or diseases that attack the female reproductive organs, such as PCOS and endometriosis.
6. Drug side effects
The use of certain drugs can also affect male and female fertility, such as chemotherapy drugs, antidepressants, hormone replacement therapy, and high doses of corticosteroids.
In addition, the use of illegal drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine, can also affect male and female fertility.
7. Lifestylenot healthy
An unhealthy lifestyle, such as frequent smoking, consumption of alcoholic beverages, and frequent stress, can affect fertility levels.
Therefore, if you and your partner are planning a pregnancy, adopt a healthier lifestyle, for example by exercising regularly, reducing stress, stopping smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages, and getting enough rest time.
Several Types of Fertility Test
To determine the level of fertility, the doctor will perform a health examination through a physical examination and a sexual history tracing. Next, the doctor will perform a fertility test to confirm whether the patient is infertile or not.
There are different types of fertility tests for men and women. The following are the types of tests:
Fertility test for men
There are several types of fertility tests for men, namely:
- Sperm analysis, to determine the number and quality of sperm as well as the shape and movement of sperm.
- Ultrasonography (USG), to monitor the condition of the male reproductive organs and detect whether there are abnormalities in these organs.
- Hormone examination, to determine the level of sex hormones or hormones that play an important role in producing sperm, such as testosterone.
- Testicular biopsy, to check if there are problems with the sperm production process, such as tumors or cancer in the testicles.
- Genetic testing, to determine whether there is a genetic disorder that causes infertility.
In addition to the several types of examinations above, the doctor will also conduct an examination of sexually transmitted diseases.
This examination is carried out through analysis of urine and blood samples to detect certain sexually transmitted diseases that can be one of the causes of infertility in men.
Fertility test for women
Some fertility tests for women include:
- ovulation test, to measure hormone levels to determine if a woman is ovulating and producing eggs regularly.
- Examination of egg reserves in the ovaries, to determine the quality and number of eggs available for ovulation.
- Imaging tests, such as Ultrasound, HSG, such as a CT scan, or MRI, to detect if there are abnormalities in the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes.
- Hysteroscopy, to detect abnormalities in the uterus and cervix or cervix.
- Hormone tests, to determine whether there are hormonal abnormalities that can cause fertility problems in women.
Some infertility can be treated, but some are not. This depends on the cause.
To find out if you or your partner is infertile and what causes it, consult a doctor so that a fertility test can be done, especially if you have not had children even though you have had sex without contraception for 1 year or more.