The formal definition of an infertile couple is when they have tried unsuccessfully to conceive a child without using any method of birth control (i.e., any contraceptive technique) for at least a year.[1]
Unfortunatley, mainstream medicine views infertility in a medicalized way, even when the reason for the apparent infertility is not medical. Many couples trying to conceive a child take at least a year before the woman becomes pregnant.
Such a delay in the occurrence of conception is common, even when both partners lack any medical reason for infertility. In contemporary society, where both partners in a couple work, many couples trying to have a child schedule their love-making in a business-like manner, rather than allowing the time to make love leisurely. Thus, stress can impact fertility.
Nevertheless, in some cases, lack of ability for a couple to conceive a child may be caused by either or both of the following medical factors:
Low sperm count and/or presence of abnormal sperm in the male (either of which can be detected by a laboratory test)
Infertility in the woman
In women, fertility peaks at the approximate age of 18 years. After the early 20s, the ability of a woman to conceive a child begins to decline. Fertility in women decreases faster after the age of 35, and much more rapidly after the age of 40. Estimates of women who have difficulty becoming pregnant include:
33% of women over the age of 35
66% of women over the age of 40
Causes of infertility in women include:[1]
An imbalance in certain sex hormones, including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, and progesterone
Amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation)
Lack of ovulation due to abnormal conditions of the ovaries, including ovarian cysts and polycystic ovaries
Scarring in the fallopian tubes due to past sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs, such as infections with chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) due to untreated STDs (such as gonorrhea or syphilis infections)
Other underlying reasons for blockages in the fallopian tubes leading from the ovaries to the uterus
Endometriosis (an abnormal condition of the lining of the uterus). Depending on the anatomical location of the endometriosis and the severity of the condition, other symptoms of endometriosis may include pain during intercourse and/or during menstrual periods.
Uterine fibroids (benign tumors of the uterus)
Physical stress
Emotional stress
The stress hormone, cortisol, can change the balance of certain sex hormones, including FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone in women, resulting in a change in the lining of the uterus. An altered uterine lining in premenopausal women makes it more difficult for a fertilized egg to attach and implant in the lining of the uterus.
Also, according to traditional Chinese medicine, blocked energy pathways in the pelvic region can cause infertility in women.
A variety of ways are available to manage and treat infertility in women. See our Q&A called Treatment of Infertility in Women.
REFERENCE
1. J. Reichenberg-Ullman. Whole Woman Homeopathy. 2004. North Edmonds, WA: Picnic Point Press.
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