Infertility

What causes infertility?

Female

• Damaged or blocked tubes hence preventing the sperm and egg from meeting.
• Problems with ovulation such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) where few or no eggs are released.
• Endometriosis, a condition which causes distortion to the female anatomy that can affect the fallopian tube function or may cause a hostile environment that may interfere with fertilisation.
• Fibroids and polyps that can distort the cavity of the womb and impair implantation.
• Premature ovarian failure such that eggs are no longer released. This can occur naturally or as a result of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
• Age as the number and quality of eggs diminish with age.

Male

• Low sperm count or poor sperm motility which may be a genetic cause. This means fewer sperm manage to get to the fallopian tubes to meet the egg.
• Absent or no sperm. This may result from obstruction in the vas, the tube that delivers the sperm from the testis to the penis, or due to impaired sperm production in the testis.
• Erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation resulting in failure of delivery of sperm in the vagina.