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Female cycle
& fertility

Female cycle 
& fertility

Infertility

Fertility and infertility can be very emotive subjects. People who struggle to conceive report feeling depressed, ashamed and guilty, and it can have an enormous impact on self-esteem and wellbeing.

What’s more, even though subfertility and infertility affect millions of people around the world, many don’t share their feelings and experiences with family or friends, which can also make them feel isolated, and that no one understands what they’re going through.

Empowering yourself with knowledge is one way towards feeling less helpless, while talking — whether it’s to a friend or a professional — can help you work through these often complex and difficult feelings.

Did you know?

Trouble conceiving... You’re not alone
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1 in 6 people globally experience fertility problems at some point in their lives

Did you know?
Trouble conceiving... You’re not alone
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1 in 6 people globally experience fertility problems at some point in their lives

Know your terms

There are several different categories under the umbrella term of infertility, and it’s good to know what the differences are:

Infertility is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as not being able to get pregnant after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex. Other definitions also include not being able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of unstimulated intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Sterility is not being able to have children at all. This can happen naturally, for example the menopause means women are no longer able to conceive, as they no longer release eggs to be fertilised. It can also happen with certain medical procedures such as cancer treatment.

Primary infertility is when someone has never been able to conceive.

Secondary infertility is when someone has been able to conceive at least once in the past.

You can read more on this in our article, Secondary infertility: What is it and what’s the difference between infertility and secondary infertility?

There are several different categories under the umbrella term of infertility, and it’s good to know what the differences are:
 
Infertility is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as not being able to get pregnant after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex. Other definitions also include not being able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of unstimulated intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Sterility is not being able to have children at all. This can happen naturally, for example the menopause means women are no longer able to conceive, as they no longer release eggs to be fertilised. It can also happen with certain medical procedures such as cancer treatment.

Primary infertility is when someone has never been able to conceive.

Secondary infertility is when someone has been able to conceive at least once in the past.

You can read more on this in our article, Secondary infertility: What is it and what’s the difference between infertility and secondary infertility?

Male fertility problems – and what can be done about them

Just like for women, male fertility issues fall into two very broad categories: medical and lifestyle. Lifestyle factors include alcohol intake, smoking, weight and exposure to pollutants or toxins.

Whatever the underlying cause, most problems with male fertility are to do with sperm production or sperm delivery.

Just like for women, male fertility issues fall into two very broad categories: medical and lifestyle. Lifestyle factors include alcohol intake, smoking, weight and exposure to pollutants or toxins.

Whatever the underlying cause, most problems with male fertility are to do with sperm production or sperm delivery.

Some common issues include:

Sexual function

What is it?

Not being able to get or maintain an erection, low libido, problems with ejaculating.

What can be done about it?

See a doctor to rule out any underlying medical causes.
It may be possible to increase libido or address erectile dysfunction with medication.

Infections

What is it?

Some infections of the male reproductive system may affect sperm count or quality.

What can be done about it?

Medication may be needed to clear up the infection, along with lifestyle changes to help prevent it returning, as repeated infection can cause more permanent damage.
Blockages

What is it?

Some kind of obstruction in the urethra can stop sperm getting through, reducing fertility.

What can be done about it?

There are many reasons why the genital tract may become blocked, so you may need a few tests to find out. Depending on what’s causing the blockage, surgery and/or medications may help.
Varicoceles

What is it?

Varicoceles are swollen veins in the testicles which affect sperm production.

What can be done about it?

Varicoceles can often be treated with a minor surgical procedure.
Genetic conditions

What is it?

Some men may inherit a genetic condition which affects sperm count, quality or delivery.

What can be done about it?

Depending on the condition, surgery or medication may help. Assisted reproduction might also be an option.
Sperm insufficiency

What is it?

Sperm can vary considerably from man to man and even from day to day. There are lots of factors that can influence sperm production, and these can affect the sperm in different ways. For example, sperm may be too small, not very active, mis-shaped, too few or absent.

What can be done about it?

If time, lifestyle changes and medical interventions aren’t enough to fix the situation, assisted reproduction techniques (ART) might be an option. There are many kinds of ART – read more in our assisted reproduction section

You can read more in our article: How does age affect fertility in men?

Female fertility problems – and what can be done about them

Women’s reproductive systems are more complex than men’s, and so is female fertility. So many things can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle and fertility that it often takes some time to work out a) that a woman is actually subfertile and b) what’s causing it.
 
One study found that couples waited on average 3 years before getting a diagnosis of infertility, precisely because it can take so long to identify it and uncover the reasons.
Did you know?

Around 85% of couples who are struggling to conceive have an identifiable source, and about 15% have “unexplained infertility”

Did you know?
Around 85% of couples who are struggling to conceive have an identifiable source, and about 15% have “unexplained infertility”

Know your options

The options open to you depend on both your age and the fertility issues you’re facing. Lifestyle changes are easiest to address because the power to change your habits lies with you. However, if you’re under 40, a healthy weight with a reasonably healthy lifestyle and are still struggling to conceive after around 12 months/cycles of assisted reproduction, it might be worth seeing a doctor to start to rule out other health conditions. However, if you’re over 35 you’ll want to seek a professional opinion if you still haven’t conceived after 6 months.

The kind of treatment on offer will vary a lot depending on:

  • Your age and the age of your male partner
  • How long you have been trying to conceive
  • Whether the main problem needs surgery and/or medication
  • What services are available in your area

The next level, if treatment doesn’t work or isn’t appropriate, is to start looking at interventions such as assisted reproduction techniques (ART). This is a broad term for the many ways that pregnancy can he helped along with scientific procedures, such as using sperm to fertilise an egg in a laboratory (in vitro fertilisation – literally meaning “in glass”), or implanting pre-fertilised or pre-frozen eggs into the uterus.

Talk it through

As ever with complex, emotive subjects it’s better to talk through all your options and feelings and thoughts with your partner if you have one, but also with family and friends, and with a counsellor trained in fertility issues. A professional fertility counsellor can help you navigate the maze of choices, tests and procedures, as well as work with you to process what can often be conflicting, difficult or overwhelming feelings.

Infertility

Fertility and infertility can be very emotive subjects. People who struggle to conceive report feeling depressed, ashamed and guilty, and it can have an enormous impact on self-esteem and wellbeing.

What’s more, even though subfertility and infertility affect millions of people around the world, many don’t share their feelings and experiences with family or friends, which can also make them feel isolated, and that no one understands what they’re going through.

Empowering yourself with knowledge is one way towards feeling less helpless, while talking — whether it’s to a friend or a professional — can help you work through these often complex and difficult feelings.

Did you know?
Trouble conceiving... You’re not alone
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1 in 6 people globally experience fertility problems at some point in their lives

Know your terms

There are several different categories under the umbrella term of infertility, and it’s good to know what the differences are:
 
Infertility is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as not being able to get pregnant after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex. Other definitions also include not being able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of unstimulated intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Sterility is not being able to have children at all. This can happen naturally, for example the menopause means women are no longer able to conceive, as they no longer release eggs to be fertilised. It can also happen with certain medical procedures such as cancer treatment.

Primary infertility is when someone has never been able to conceive.

Secondary infertility is when someone has been able to conceive at least once in the past.

You can read more on this in our article, Secondary infertility: What is it and what’s the difference between infertility and secondary infertility?

Male fertility problems – and what can be done about them

Just like for women, male fertility issues fall into two very broad categories: medical and lifestyle. Lifestyle factors include alcohol intake, smoking, weight and exposure to pollutants or toxins.

Whatever the underlying cause, most problems with male fertility are to do with sperm production or sperm delivery.
Some common issues include:
Sexual function

What is it?

Not being able to get or maintain an erection, low libido, problems with ejaculating.

What can be done about it?

See a doctor to rule out any underlying medical causes.
It may be possible to increase libido or address erectile dysfunction with medication.
Infections

What is it?

Some infections of the male reproductive system may affect sperm count or quality.

What can be done about it?

Medication may be needed to clear up the infection, along with lifestyle changes to help prevent it returning, as repeated infection can cause more permanent damage.
Blockages

What is it?

Some kind of obstruction in the urethra can stop sperm getting through, reducing fertility.

What can be done about it?

There are many reasons why the genital tract may become blocked, so you may need a few tests to find out.
Depending on what’s causing the blockage, surgery and/or medications may help.
Varicoceles

What is it?

Varicoceles are swollen veins in the testicles which affect sperm production.

What can be done about it?

Varicoceles can often be treated with a minor surgical procedure.
Genetic conditions

What is it?

Some men may inherit a genetic condition which affects sperm count, quality or delivery.

What can be done about it?

Depending on the condition, surgery or medication may help.
Assisted reproduction might also be an option.
Sperm insufficiency

What is it?

Sperm can vary considerably from man to man and even from day to day. There are lots of factors that can influence sperm production, and these can affect the sperm in different ways. For example, sperm may be too small, not very active, mis-shaped, too few or absent.

What can be done about it?

If time, lifestyle changes and medical interventions aren’t enough to fix the situation, assisted reproduction techniques (ART) might be an option. There are many kinds of ART – read more in our assisted reproduction section
You can read more in our article: How does age affect fertility in men?

Female fertility problems – and what can be done about them

Women’s reproductive systems are more complex than men’s, and so is female fertility. So many things can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle and fertility that it often takes some time to work out a) that a woman is actually subfertile and b) what’s causing it.
 
One study found that couples waited on average 3 years before getting a diagnosis of infertility, precisely because it can take so long to identify it and uncover the reasons.
Did you know?
Around 85% of couples who are struggling to conceive have an identifiable source, and about 15% have “unexplained infertility”

Know your options

The options open to you depend on both your age and the fertility issues you’re facing. Lifestyle changes are easiest to address because the power to change your habits lies with you. However, if you’re under 40, a healthy weight with a reasonably healthy lifestyle and are still struggling to conceive after around 12 months/cycles of assisted reproduction, it might be worth seeing a doctor to start to rule out other health conditions. However, if you’re over 35 you’ll want to seek a professional opinion if you still haven’t conceived after 6 months.
The kind of treatment on offer will vary a lot depending on:
  • Your age and the age of your male partner
  • How long you have been trying to conceive
  • Whether the main problem needs surgery and/or medication
  • What services are available in your area
The next level, if treatment doesn’t work or isn’t appropriate, is to start looking at interventions such as assisted reproduction techniques (ART). This is a broad term for the many ways that pregnancy can he helped along with scientific procedures, such as using sperm to fertilise an egg in a laboratory (in vitro fertilisation – literally meaning “in glass”), or implanting pre-fertilised or pre-frozen eggs into the uterus.

Talk it through

As ever with complex, emotive subjects it’s better to talk through all your options and feelings and thoughts with your partner if you have one, but also with family and friends, and with a counsellor trained in fertility issues. A professional fertility counsellor can help you navigate the maze of choices, tests and procedures, as well as work with you to process what can often be conflicting, difficult or overwhelming feelings.

Fertility Age

Calculator

How does age affect your fertility?

References

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