Solutions for Infertility

The Many Possible Causes of Infertility

Today, an estimated 1 in 6 couples require assistance to conceive. And it is not surprising, given the long and extensive list of possible causes of infertility.

First of all, the cause of the infertility could be the male partner, or the female partner, or both partners. In fact, about one-third of infertility cases are due to the female partner; one-third are due to the male partner; and the remaining one-third are due to a combination of male and female factor issues. To complicate issues even further, in 25% of couples, there is also more than one factor contributing to infertility.

Featuring strongly as one of the reasons for this increase in couples that face fertility challenges is advanced maternal age. After age 35, fertility starts to decline at a much more rapid pace, so assistance may be required in getting pregnant.

Among the many possible causes of infertility, certain lifestyle choices and stress also feature strongly, because they negatively affect overall health, and, therefore, the fertility of both partners.

Most causes of male infertility are usually related to sperm disorders – in fact, damage to sperm production affects two thirds of men who are experiencing fertility challenges. Male infertility may also be caused by the testes themselves, the ducts that lead out from the testes, a functional problem in relation to sexual activity, hormonal issues or genetic problems.

The common causes of female infertility include Abnormal Thyroid, Cervical Factor, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Endometriosis, Hyperprolactinaemia, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Stress, Uterine Factor, Advanced Maternal Age, Anovulation, Tubal Occlusion and Blocked Fallopian Tubes.

It requires a specialist with years of experience and advanced technology to pinpoint your specific condition from all these possibilities.

And it is only once you know the exact problem that you can choose the best infertility solution, given your unique situation.

Infertility Solutions Available

Fortunately, as many causes as there are for infertility, there are also many infertility solutions.

The infertility solutions proudly offered at Medfem Fertility Clinic are briefly discussed below. These may be included in your treatment plan, depending on your unique circumstances.

For male infertility, there are a range of solutions. These include, for example, hormonal therapy, varicocele repair, vasectomy reversals, surgical sperm retrieval, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Artificial Insemination (AI) / Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), as well as sperm donation and sperm freezing and storage.

One of the major break throughs in treatment of male infertility is ICSI. Because of its rate of fertilisation of around 70% and because only a few normal sperm are needed, this treatment gives even men who were previously considered completely sterile an excellent chance to have their own child.

Hormonal therapy successfully corrects a deficiency in the hormones that control testicular function. During a varicocele repair, a dilation of the veins is tied or clipped through a small incision in the groin to achieve a significant improvement in sperm production. A vasectomy reversal repairs a surgically removed section of the sperm duct and is called a vasovasostomy.

Sperm donation is another solution, and Medfem Fertility Clinic founded its own sperm bank in 1990 to address the acute donor sperm shortage in South Africa. Freezing and storage of semen samples allow men to use the sperm in the future if their future fertility is in jeopardy, such as when facing radiation or chemo therapy, pelvic or testicular surgery, a vasectomy and certain illnesses, diseases or injuries.

You can read more about these solutions for male infertility here…

Female infertility treatments ranging from medications to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) – including in vitro fertilisation (IVF) – are achieving great success.

Originally developed for women with damaged or missing fallopian tubes, IVF treatment has been the standard treatment for infertility since 1983. Since then, more than 5 million IVF babies have been born worldwide making IVF treatment success rates now comparable – and even superior – to those of natural conception.

Low Dose IVF is a relatively new and advanced reproductive technology (ART) that offers a gentle alternative to traditional in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a procedure in which sperm are directly injected into the egg when fertilisation is less likely to occur with routine IVF and if poor or no fertilisation occurred during standard IVF.

During ovulation induction, fertility hormones are taken to increase the number of eggs that a woman ovulates in a cycle. Where couples are not getting pregnant due to an issue with the eggs, egg donation is also an option. Another option is egg freezing and storage – a breakthrough technology that allows women to freeze and store their eggs when they are younger or before they have treatments such as chemotherapy until they are ready to get pregnant.

To address some of the other possible causes of infertility, there are also options such as a myomectomy – a type of fibroid surgery during which only fibroids are removed, not your uterus; endometriosis treatment that can either be surgical or medical (by means of medication), although some patients need a combination; and congenital uterine anomalies treatment with excellent prognosis for a successful pregnancy.

Which Infertility Solution is Best for You?

It is good news that while there are so many possible causes of infertility, there are just as many possible solutions.

It requires a specialist with years of experience and advanced technology to pinpoint your specific condition from all the possibilities. But accurately determining the cause is the only way to ensure the right fertility solution is chosen.

It also requires a specialist with years of experience to pinpoint the specific treatment or treatments from all these possibilities to ensure your very best chance of conceiving. This means that your next step in pinpointing the best option from the many solutions to infertility is an initial consultation with a fertility specialist.

During your initial consultation at Medfem Fertility Clinic, a highly qualified and experienced fertility specialist will:

* do an extensive review of your medical history

* schedule or perform a comprehensive infertility physical exam and blood tests

* provide in-depth explanations and answers to all your questions

* detail a broad range of infertility treatment options

* develop with you a personalised fertility treatment plan that fits you best.

Regardless of which specific treatments might form part of the right solution for your infertility challenges, a 30 – 60 minute initial consultation is your first step – simply click here or contact us on +27 (11) 463 2244 to book your initial consultation.