Infertility is more common than most people would like to think.
Premier Health estimates that, as many as one in seven couples trying to have a baby will experience infertility, and recent studies show that after a year of having unprotected sex, 15 per cent of couples are unable to conceive a child.
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Infertility is defined as trying to get pregnant with frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year with no success.
Infertility isn’t just about female factors – both male and female causes, known or unknown, can play a role.
Female infertility causes can be difficult to diagnose. However, various treatments targeting specific causes are available, offering hope for couples trying to conceive.
There are several common reasons why infertility among couples is increasing worldwide.
As reported by The Citizen, Gynaecologist Dr Zanele Ngwenya explains why infertility is becoming a growing health challenge facing women in today’s time.
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Poor lifestyle choices
For a woman to achieve pregnancy, a healthy egg and healthy sperm are required. But with the modern lifestyles and poor lifestyle choices, even many young people are not very healthy, and they struggle to fall pregnant naturally.
Dr Ngwenya says it is not just the conditions themselves, but who is presenting with them. “Lifestyle and metabolic factors are becoming more common causes,” with rising obesity, insulin resistance, smoking and alcohol use all contributing to hormonal disruptions in the female body.
Sexually transmitted diseases
STDs can cause infertility in women and men. For many women, STDs lead to tubal inflammation that can block the fallopian tubes, making a natural pregnancy impossible.
Dr Ngwenya also states that some sexually transmitted infections may leave scars within the uterus.
The age of the partner
Another common reason for the steady increase in infertility numbers is the age at which many women now choose to start their families. With the modern world, many women put off having children until later in life. This is because more women are building careers. The physical reality is that women have a prime fertility window that extends to around age 35. It is well documented that female fertility slowly decreases after the age of 35.
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Feature Image: Gettys
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