6 Main Infertility Factors

Check out the 6 main factors that can cause infertility.

Infertility factor #1: Age

Age is the most important factor that primarily affects woman’s fertility. Namely, the ovary is an organ that rapidly ages in women, which causes reduced fertility in older women as well as more frequent genetic abnormalities of the fetus. The reason for this difference probably lies in the fact that more chromosomes are damaged in older ovarian cells. A woman aged 25 years is 75% more likely to get pregnant after six months of regular unprotected sex, while the chances of conceiving for a woman in her 40s are drastically reduced to 10%. Despite these facts, however, more and more women postpone pregnancy today. They first satisfy a need for a career and decide on pregnancy only after the age of 30, when their reproductive ability starts to diminish slowly. Fertilizing ability of men diminishes much more slowly with age.

Infertility factor #2: Sexually transmitted diseases

A high price for unprotected sex is yet again paid by women. Asymptomatic sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, can cause serious damage to the fallopian tubes, which results in infertility. Even a single infection can permanently damage the mucosa of the fallopian tubes. The chances of blocking the fallopian tubes are increased by every sexually transmitted disease. However, a more common reason for abnormalities are the consequences of infections in the pelvic cavity, which often remain undiagnosed and show no typical symptoms, but they nevertheless cause major abnormalities of the fallopian tubes.

Infertility factor #3: Smoking

All the warnings on cigarette packs aren’t there just because of the regulations. Smoking has an indirect effect on numerous psychological functions that are necessary for normal reproduction. It causes the growth of follicles and reduces the resistance of the organism against infections. Women who took up smoking before the age of 16 and smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day are very likely to suffer from tubal infertility (abnormalities of the fallopian tubes). Smoking also affects men because it can influence the number of sperm cells and their fertilizing ability.

Infertility factor #4: Dangerous substances in the environment

A special type of chemicals and vapors, termed teratogenic substances, are toxic for reproduction and proved to cause reduced fertility both in women and men as well as developmental defects of the fetus. High concentrations of industrial chemicals, pesticides and other toxins are particularly dangerous.

Use of illegal drugs

Some illegal drugs affect the release of gonadotropin from the hypophysis, which causes reduced fertility. These substances are marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and even caffeine. Research conducted in the USA showed that women who drink more than 3 cups of coffee a day reduce their fertilizing ability by 20%.

Infertility factor #5: Stress

Today, people are under significantly greater stress than the previous generations. Today, women in their fertile period are 65% more likely to become clinically depressed than women in the past. This causes irregular periods and irregular ovulation. Stress can also affect the number and mobility of sperm cells in a man.

Infertility factor #6: Extreme eating and exercising

Extreme dietary habits, such as a strict vegetarian diet, are proved to reduce fertilizing ability. Professional sport, where sportspeople try to reduce their body fat to the minimum, can also cause hormonal imbalance. Obesity and lack of exercise can also cause reduced fertility.

Read more about infertility in the Encyclopedia of Sexuality.