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Diagnosis
Causes of Fertility in Women
Conditions affecting a woman’s fertility can include:
- Ovulatory problems
- Damage to the fallopian tubes
- Endometriosis
- Conditions affecting the uterus
- A combination of factors
- No identifiable reason.
Other factors that may play a part include:
- Age – female fertility declines sharply after the age of 35
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Gynaecological problems such as previous ectopic pregnancy or having had more than one miscarriage
- Medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, and thyroid and bowel diseases
- Lifestyle factors such as stress, being overweight or underweight, and smoking.
Causes of Infertility in Men
Conditions that may result in infertility include:
- Low sperm count or quality
- Problems with the tubes carrying sperm
- Problems getting an erection
- Problems ejaculating
Other factors that may play a part in infertility include:
- Having had inflamed testes (orchitis)
- A past bacterial infection that caused scarring and blocked tubes within the epididymis as it joins the vas
- Having received medical treatment such as drug treatment, radiotherapy or surgery – for example to correct a hernia, undescended testes or twisted testicles
- Genetic problems
- Diabetes
- Lifestyle factors such as being overweight or having a job that involves contact with chemicals or radiation.