Is Infertility Only a Female Problem?

30 Aug Is Infertility Only a Female Problem?

Whenever there is trouble related to conception (i.e. childbearing) in a family, most often than not accusing fingers are usually pointed towards one person – The Woman. If you live in Africa, this is the case 90% of the time. But should this be the case?

Absolutely not!

Contrary to popular belief, infertility is not solely a female problem. In fact, research shows that over one-third of infertility cases can be attributed to female factors, one-third to male factors (between 30-50%), and the remaining one-third to a combination of issues affecting both men and women or unknown causes. Infertility is a sensitive and complex subject that affects millions of individuals and family worldwide. In general, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex.

Infertility be classified as primary where a couple have never been pregnant and can’t get pregnant after one year of actively trying to achieve pregnancy, or secondary, which is an inability to get pregnant after being pregnant once or twice. 

There is also a classification known as unexplained infertility: you can’t conceive without a known cause especially after a lot of fertility testing.

Causes of male infertility.

The causes of male infertility range from various factors like:

1. Low sperm count

2. Poor sperm motility

3. Abnormal sperm morphology

4. Hormonal imbalances

5. Genetic disorders

6. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use and obesity (This is why medical personnels heavily advise against smoking and alcohol consumption amongst other reasons).

7. Certain medical conditions such as varicocele, a condition in which the veins within a man’s testicle are enlarged, can affect the fertility of a man.

8. Cancer treatment involving certain types of chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery to remove one or both testicles can equally impact male fertility. 

Here is doctor’s advice to men for couples trying to conceive – be sure to go for tests alongside your female partner. Seeing as male factor infertility can in fact, be a problem for couples trying to conceive, it makes more sense going for screening together than for a partner to go alone. In Africa, most men hesitate to go for these tests. This should not be the case. Diagnosing male infertility involves looking for problems with sperms. Tests like Semen Analysis, Blood Test, Scrotal ultrasound among others can help detect testicular and semen problems. 

Beyond individual factors, infertility can also arise from a combination of issues affecting both partners. For instance, problems with sperm quality or quantity can intersect with ovulation disorders or reproductive organ abnormalities, leading to difficulties conceiving.

In the end, treatment of infertility depends solely on the cause and goals. Your doctor would consider factors such as age, how long you have been trying to conceive to provide you with the best treatment options available. Our major takeaway from today’s article is this – Infertility is a condition that affects men just as it affects women. Therefore, we must not point accusing fingers at one partner, rather we must provide the right support for them to find the best options that will help couples in need achieve their lifetime dream of a successful pregnancy.