Conditions preventing conception:

There are a range of reasons why a couple may have difficulty in conceiving.  Investigations and test may uncover specific conditions, which may be treatable, or may be offered to help conceive.

What can affect a man’s fertility?  A semen analysis may reveal various reasons why sperm have difficulty in fertilizing an egg.  The sperm count may be low (less then 20 million sperm per ml): the motility of the sperm (how they move) may be poor; and there may be high percentage of abnormally formed sperm.  Some men experience a failure to ejaculate an orgasm.  There may also be damage to the tubes that connect the testicles to the seminal vesicles where sperm are produced, and this may have been present from birth or caused by a later infection.

What can affect a woman’s infertility?  Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (a hormonal imbalance that causes ovarian cysts and endometriosis can disrupt fertility.  Other hormonal imbalances, such as low levels of FSH and LH can affect ovulation or levels of progesterone may be too low to sustain a fertilized egg.  Damaged fallopian tubes caused by an ectopic pregnancy, surgery, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease which may be caused by Chlamydia, can prevent conception.  Damage to the ovaries can occur from scarring as a result of a surgery, or infection, or the supply of eggs may be low.  Some women have an abnormally shaped uterus, or have uterine scarring that can prevent the successful implantation of an egg.

No tags