Health
One of the biggest ironies of our lives is that we've been trying to prevent pregnancy for years, and then when we're ready, we can't. For those who are planning to conceive a child or are already trying, it is worth knowing about the factors that can interfere with this natural process. Here are the most common things that affect our ability to conceive:
1. High temperature
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Who is affected: men
The enzymes that are needed for sperm production are very sensitive to high temperatures. Men who frequent the sauna or jacuzzi, wear tight underwear, sit all day or stand in front of a hot stove may inadvertently expose their testicles to heat, causing them to be disturbed sperm production. The reason why the testicles are outside is because they maintain a lower temperature than the body temperature, which is necessary for sperm formation.
What can be done?
Avoid overheating your reproductive organs by limiting your use of saunas and hot tubs, and don't keep your laptop on your lap. If your job requires sitting for a long time, get up and move more often and don't sit cross-legged. Wear loose underwear and clothes.
2. Sex at the wrong time
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Who is affected: women and men
If you're both busy building a career, it can be hard to find time for two at the right time of the month.
What can be done?
Monitor your basal body temperature or use special tests that predict the onset of ovulation to know when the period is favorable for conception. Try to have sex at least every other day a week before ovulation. Once ovulation has occurred, it is already too late.
3. Medications
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Who is affected: women and men
There are several common drugs that affect the ability to conceive. Men who take medications that contain cimetidine or heart medication with digitalis have low sperm counts. Some drugs used for high blood pressure can affect ejaculation, sperm motility and their ability to travel to the egg, and antibiotics can treat urinary tract infections can suppress sperm production. Women who use decongestants may inadvertently help dry out mucus secreted by the cervix, which is important for conception, although this rarely causes infertility.
What can be done?
Talk to your doctor about any medications you and your partner are taking, including over-the-counter medications. It may be that alternative medicines are preventing you from getting pregnant. You may also need to stop taking certain medications temporarily.
4. Physiological problems
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Who is affected: women and men
The egg and sperm need a relatively free way to meet. If a woman has uterine fibroids or polyps, endometriosis or scars on the reproductive organs, and a man has a congenital anomaly such as the absence of a vas deferens, this makes it difficult to meet oocytes and sperm cells.
What can be done?
If you fall into this category, you've probably already sought help from a specialist. But if you tried to conceive a child and were unable to do it, you may not know about your condition, as these disorders have no symptoms. It is worth consulting a doctor to identify the problem.
5. Cancer treatment
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Who is affected: women and men
Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men aged 15 to 45 years. While cancer itself does not lead to infertility, cancer treatments can do so. Cancer treatments, such as lymphoma and leukemia, can cause temporary infertility.
Women who are being treated for cancer through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may experience early menopause, which prevents pregnancy.
What can be done?
If you're going to be treated for cancer, talk with your doctor about freezing sperm, egg, or ovarian tissue that can be used to conceive in the future.
6. Varicocele
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Who is affected: men
Varicocele is a varicose vein in the spermatic cord. Dilated veins contribute to blood accumulation, which increases the temperature in the scrotum, and this affects sperm production. This is the most common cause of male infertility. About 15 percent of men have this disorder and most don't know it.
What can be done?
Varicocele is corrected using a minor surgical procedure, during which the surgeon compresses varicose veins.
7. Irregular ovulation
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Who it affects: women
The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. At the same time, it should be noted that a cycle of 23 to 35 days is considered normal. Ovulation, during which an egg moves from the fallopian tube to the uterus, occurs about 14 days before the first day of the next menstrual period. But there are a number of diseases that cause irregular ovulation, such as polycystic ovaries, hyperthyroidism (increased thyroid function), or hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function), hormonal imbalances (for example, having too many male hormones), underweight or excess weight, stress, diet, perimenopause, and others.
What can be done?
Keep an eye on your basal body temperature to know when ovulation occurs and when it's best to have sex. You can purchase tests that predict ovulation. Most of them analyze a surge of luteinizing hormone in the urine, which indicates impending ovulation. Of course, if you have one of the above disorders, you should see a doctor, as there are several treatments to help stimulate ovulation.
8. Alcohol and smoking
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Who is affected: women and men
Alcohol is a “gonadotoxin,” which means it's a testicular “poison” that affects sperm production. Men should limit their alcohol consumption to two drinks per week. Women who want to become pregnant should also abstain from alcohol and stop drinking altogether as soon as they find out they are pregnant.
Both marijuana and cigarettes lead to sperm abnormalities. In women who smoke, egg stores are depleted faster than non-smokers, and smoking also affects estrogen production. Estrogen plays an important role in the production of cervical mucus, which helps sperm move to the egg. Nicotine in a woman's cervical mucus kills sperm cells, reducing the chances of conception.
What can be done?
If you smoke or take drugs, it's time to stop. Limit alcohol consumption to rare, or rather stop altogether.
9. Weight
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Who is affected: women and men
Women who are below normal weight and those who are above normal may suffer from hormonal imbalances. Underweight men may have lower levels of testosterone, and both underweight and excess weight are associated with lower sperm count and concentration.
What can be done?
If your weight is different from normal, make changes to bring it back to a healthy weight. Exercise moderately and make sure your diet is adequate.
10. Stress
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Who is affected: women and men
In men, stress affects fertility by reducing sperm volume and increasing the number of abnormal sperm cells. Women suffering from chronic stress produce less gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which leads to a number of hormonal changes associated with ovulation.
What can be done?
Learn to manage stress through exercise and meditation. Set aside at least 15 minutes a day for yourself to relax and get your problems out of your head.
11. Sexually transmitted infections
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Who is affected: women and men
If left untreated, infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause scarring on the fallopian tubes, uterus and ovaries, preventing sperm from reaching the egg or preventing sperm from reaching the egg attaching a fertilized egg to the uterus. Scars on the tubes can also lead to an ectopic pregnancy. In men, scarring in the epididymis ducts and ejaculatory glands can block sperm from reaching the egg and prevent fertilization.
What can be done?
If any of you have a sexually transmitted infection, tell your doctor. In many cases, scar tissue can be surgically removed, resulting in the desired pregnancy.
12. Age
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Who is affected: women and men
By the time a woman reaches 35, she has lost numerous viable eggs through menstruation and natural exhaustion. The optimal age for conceiving a child, at least from the point of view of biology, is between 20 and 30 years. Although men can technically become fathers in old age, the risk of conceiving a child with chromosomal abnormalities, especially Down syndrome, increases after age 35, as does women.
What can be done?
If you're under 35, most doctors won't refer you to a fertility specialist until you've been trying to conceive for at least a year. If you are over 35, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible. The sooner you seek help, the better your chances of conceiving.