By Dr Aishah Fadila Adamu
Infertility is defined as the inability to get pregnant after a year of regular, unprotected sex. Regular sex means at least 3 – 4 days a week. (Quick Question: A couple, married for 3 years told you they are suffering from infertility. They do not live together and visit each other on some weekends only. Do you think this couple can be diagnosed of infertility? Share your thoughts). It is important to note that infertility is a shared experience that affects both partners, so it’s important to use language that reflects this. Instead of saying ‘the wife’ or ‘the husband’ is infertile, we say ‘the couple’ is experiencing infertility, even if the underlying cause lies with one individual.
Types of Infertility
- Primary Infertility: When a person has never been able to get pregnant.
- Secondary Infertility: When a person has been able to get pregnant before, but is having trouble getting pregnant again.
Causes of Infertility
– Female Causes:
- Hormonal imbalances
- Ovulation problems
- Blocked fallopian tubes (Mostly from untreated sexually transmitted infections like Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia)
- Endometriosis
- Age over 35 (This because your eggs stores are depleting. Remember each month so many eggs grow and die off each month. By 35 years the egg stores of a woman are depleted. The remaining eggs are also old and fragile and can lead to abnormal and syndromic babies.
– Male Causes:
- Low sperm count
- Poor sperm quality (Sperms with no tails, two tails, two heads, small heads cannot fertilize an egg. Even if they do, a miscarriage will result since the resulting baby will be deformed and incompatible with life, etc)
- Varicocele (swollen veins in the testicles)
- Undescended testicles
- Blockages in the reproductive tract
What to Do if You’re Experiencing Infertility
- Seek Medical Help: Talk to your doctor or a fertility specialist if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year or more without success.
- Get Tested: Both partners will undergo tests to determine the cause of infertility.
- Explore Treatment Options: Depending on the cause, treatment may include medication, surgery, or assisted reproductive technologies like IVF.
What to Expect at the Hospital
- Initial Consultation: Discuss your medical history and fertility journey with a healthcare provider.
- Diagnostic Tests: Such as semen analysis, ovulation tests, and imaging studies.
- Personalized Treatment Plan: Based on your specific needs and circumstances.
Remember, infertility is a common and treatable condition. Don’t hesitate to seek help if you’re struggling to start a family.
Answer to initial Question: We cannot say the couple are infertile. This is because it is clear that they are not having regular sex and that could be the issue. If this couple start living together and have unprotected sex 3-4 days a week and still no pregnancy occurs after 1 year, then we can start investigating for infertility.
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