What causes infertility?

Infertility is a complex medical condition that affects many individuals and couples.

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine has recently (2023) expanded the definition of infertility which now encompasses the following :

The inability to achieve a successful pregnancy based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors.

The need for medical intervention, including, but not limited to, the use of donor gametes or donor embryos in order to achieve a successful pregnancy either as an individual or with a partner.

In patients having regular, unprotected intercourse and without any known etiology for either partner suggestive of impaired reproductive ability, evaluation should be initiated at 12 months when the female partner is under 35 years of age and at 6 months when the female partner is 35 years of age or older.

Infertility can be caused by a variety of factors. Understanding the causes of infertility is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Some of the primary causes;

Ovulatory Disorders

Endometriosis

Tubal Factors

Male Factor Infertility

Unexplained Infertility

Age-related Infertility

Lifestyle Factors