Infertility occurs when a couple cannot bear a child after unprotected sex. If you are unable to bear a child within a year of unprotected sex, you might be suffering from infertility.

Both men and women can experience infertility. Various factors lead to infertility in both men and women, such as hormones, smoking, alcohol consumption, genetics, PCOS, etc.
However, the good news is that infertility is curable. There are several treatment options available for dealing with infertility issues.

Let's first know about what causes infertility in men and women in the first place.

Infertility causes in men:

In men, infertility can be caused because of many reasons, ranging from genetic factors to lifestyle choices. Some of the cause are:

● Testicular surgery or infection
● hormonal problems such as hypogonadism
● semen accumulation in the bladder if the ejaculation ducts are blocked
● mumps contracted during puberty, affecting the quality of the sperm
● genetic factors such as Klinefelter's syndrome
● radiation therapy impedes sperm function
● chemotherapy
● exposure to chemicals
● obesity
● excess alcohol consumption

Infertility causes in women

In women too, infertility can be caused by a plethora of genetic conditions and lifestyle. Some of the common cause of infertility in women include:

● increasing age is associated with difficulty in conception
● alcohol consumption and smoking can cause infertility
● eating disorders that may result in unexplained weight loss, nutritional deficiency due to insufficient folic acid, zinc, and vitamin B 12
● sexually transmitted diseases and mental stress
● polycystic ovarian syndrome in which the ovaries do not function properly
● thyroid gland dysfunction because of the impaired hormone
● endometriosis
● uterine fibroids
● medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, using ibuprofen or aspirin would have caused difficulty getting pregnant
● radiation therapy and drug consumption

The best infertility doctor in India examines the internal organs and detects the reasons for the abnormalities before proceeding towards treatment.

Diagnosis:

Your doctor will ask you to undergo certain tests or scans to make a proper diagnosis based on your medical history and symptoms. These tests include:

● Pelvic examination for identifying problems associated with fibroids, endometriosis
● An ultrasound for examining ovaries and uterus
● Hysterosalpingography, which is an X-ray used for examining the Fallopian tubes and the uterus
● Laparoscopy, which is a technique used to check for abnormalities in the internal organs
● Ovarian reserve testing uses hormonal tests to detect the chances of women's conception and tests, including the follicle-stimulating hormone.

Treatment for infertility

Depending on your age, holistic health of you and your partner, the best infertility doctor in India will evaluate the diagnosis and proceed towards treating the medical condition.

Male infertility treatment is based on causative factors. Treatment for men includes surgery, medication, and assisted reproductive technology. Medications are used for treating hormonal imbalances and infections. The epidydimal blockage is a coil-like structure storing and transporting sperm. When it is obstructed, sperms cannot be released and hence rectified through surgery. Thus, surgery can rectify the obstructions from sperm reaching the egg for fertilization.

Women's infertility is treated with surgery, medication, and in-vitro fertilization. Women's infertility is dealt with by modifying an abnormally shaped uterus, removing fallopian tube blockages, and removing fibroid. Medications such as metformin may help in diabetic women and those with medical complications. Pituitary gland dysfunction may cause difficulty for a woman to conceive, and hence they receive FSH and LH.

A medication for decreasing prolactin levels as higher prolactin levels causes irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems. A women's ultrasound is performed to check the development of follicles.

Adjunct therapies for fertility

Some other therapies to treat infertility include:

Yoga: The breathing techniques and certain exercises are known
to reduce stress levels and aid relaxation. Yoga acts as an adjunct therapy for infertility problems.

Vitamins: Vitamins and minerals such as folate, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, and iron are known to improve fertility. The use of probiotics may also be beneficial in conceiving.

Green tea: The antioxidant properties of green tea are known to improve fertility.

Essential oils: These oils are extracted from roots, seeds, or leaves. Aromatherapy uses these
oils for body relaxation and stress release.

Dietary modifications for increasing fertility include:

● emphasizing the consumption of fibre-rich foods
● refraining from refined carbohydrates
● consuming carbohydrates in sufficient amounts
● refraining from consuming processed and fried foods rich in trans fats
● choosing vegetable protein sources over non-vegetarian sources.

Various treatment methods have been successful in women conceiving. Through research, medical sciences have developed various techniques for bearing children. Advanced medical treatment options and innovative methods through research have increased the chances of conception.