FOR WOMEN
As many as 15% of couples have difficulty conceiving a child. In about one third of these cases, it is the man that has low fertility; in another third, the female has fertility issues… The remaining third is due to both male and female fertility issues or unknown causes. In many of these cases, the causes of low fertility are treatable. Infertility is defined as the failure to become pregnant after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse. The first step in dealing with fertility issues should always be a thorough health exam of both partners to determine any obvious physical problems. If these are ruled out, sometimes doctors or patients don’t know where to look next. If infertility is due to hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies or age, natural remedies should be considered.
Hormonal imbalance can be determined by blood tests of reproductive hormone levels. Measuring follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), oestrogen and progesterone at day 12 and 21 can indicate whether the hormonal state is compatible with pregnancy. LH or progesterone insufficiency also can be diagnosed with a urine test, or an abnormal monthly temperature chart. If progesterone is low, there is less of an expected increase in temperature during the second half of the cycle after ovulation. Without sufficient progesterone, the endometrium cannot be prepared for implantation, and the fertile ova cannot be converted into the corpus luteum.
FOR MEN
As many as 15% of couples have difficulty conceiving a child. In about one third of these cases, it is the man that has low fertility; in another third, the female has fertility issues. The remaining third is due to combined male and female infertility issues, or unknown causes. In many of these cases, the causes of low fertility can be addressed.
Most cases of low male fertility display an abnormal sperm count or low sperm motility. Even though it takes only one sperm to fertilize an egg, there are many natural barriers in the female reproductive system that keep sperm from reaching the egg. Out of 200 million sperm in an average ejaculate, only 40 reach the vicinity of the eggs. Low sperm count or motility dramatically reduces the chances of the sperm reaching the egg.
In about 10% of the cases of low sperm count (oligospermia) the cause can be identified and treated by standard medical procedures. In the other 90%, the cause of low sperm count cannot be identified and is called “idiopathic oligospermia”. Many of these cases, however, can be treated by changes in lifestyle.