Infertility 08

--PaulineL 13 janvier 2009 à 15:42 (MET) and Debora; Marjorie & Nour

What is infertility ?

Infertility is the unability for a couple to have a child after one year of unprotected sexual rapport.
For women, this means that they cannot conceive, while for men this consists in an unability to impregnate.

What is the difference between infertility and sterility?

Infertility is biologically the inability for a man or a female to produce gametes while sterility is the total incapacity to produce naturally.

What are the causes of infertility ?

http://www.chu-toulouse.fr/-l-infertilite-

Besides, the age is very important. The older the woman or the man is, the bigger the chances of infertility are. Besides, the probability of a miscarriage is greater too. Then, obesity and underweight are important factors of an infertility, acting on the quality of the ovulation. Smoking and alcohol act as well on the processus of ovulation. Anovulation is one of the different causes of infertility. Anovulation is the fact that a female does not ovulate during cycles.In other words the ovaries fail to produce oocytes.

• Women

• age
• chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections
• damaged ovaries
• blocked fallopian tubes
• hypothyroidism (a thyroid disorder)
• endometriosis (a condition where cells from womb lining are found outside the womb)
• polycystic ovary syndrome
• scarring in the uterus
• fibroids (benign smooth-muscle tumours of the uterus)
• congenital diseases like cystic fibrosis
• excessive exercise (leading to missed menstrual periods)
• anorexia or bulimia
• frequent changes in weight
• damage to the cervix (e.g., through an abortion or dilatation and curettage (D&C

• Men

• hormone disturbance
• smoking
• overheating of the testicles caused by exercise, hot water, tight clothing, excessive sitting (truck drivers) and other conditions and situations
• cancer drugs and radiation therapy
• mumps after puberty
• sexually transmitted diseases
• anatomical abnormalities of the genitals such as undescended testicles
• use of some medications, such as some antihypertensives, some antidepressants, and male hormones

• genital injury
• prostate surgery
• varicose veins in the testicles
• excessive alcohol
• intercourse problems such as premature withdrawal or poor timing with their partner's menstrual cycle
• spinal cord injury
• genetic abnormalities
• urinary tract infection
• cystic fibrosis
• illicit drug use (e.g., using cocaine, smoking marijuana)
• opiates
• steroids

• Some men are more prone than others to infertility problems. These factors contribute to the risk of infertility:

• diabetes
• poor nutrition
• smoking (lowers sperm count and reduces erections)
• hot baths
• being very overweight or underweight ]

References

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/infertility/article_em.htm
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
www.andrologia.org/eng/maschile_engl.htm

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