types of infertility

Male infertility


Sperm defects

A low sperm count is the most common cause of male infertility. Abnormalities in sperm shape or their ability to swim can also cause infertility problems. These can be due to hormonal imbalances, infection, or testicular varicocele.
A total absence of sperm (known as 'azoospermia') in the ejaculate can be caused by testicular damage, mumps, anatomical disorders, or lack of hormones.

Immunological factors
Some men produce antibodies to their own sperm, which prevent the sperm from penetrating the egg. The exact cause is not known but may be due to infection or vasectomy.

Spermatic cord occlusion
The spermatic cord is the tube that transports the sperm from each testis to the penis and any blockages will cause infertility. Common causes are vasectomy, infection and some sexually transmitted diseases.

Ejaculation disorders
Some ejaculation disorders such as retrograde ejaculation – where the semen is ejaculated backwards into the bladder – can prevent proper transfer of sperm into the vagina without the man being aware of the problem.

Erectile dysfunction and lack of libido( impotence)
there are many causes of this. The man loses his sexual desire leading to ED. The causes maybe psychological, neurogenic, vascular, endocrine or related to drugs and often includes contributions from various causes. ED is often a common symptom of hyponadism.

Endocrine disorders
such as male hypogonadism resulting in small and soft testes, poor libido, impotence and loss of secondary hair, and deficiency of semen production

Ageing
Until recently, ageing was considered a risk factor only for female fertility. However, recent research shows ageing affects sperm function too. Sperm that swim in a straight line have a far better chance of making their way through the female reproductive tract to reach the egg. But this swimming ability declines as a man ages. At the same time, the chance of genetic abnormalities in the sperm also increases






Female infertility

Ovulation disorders
A delicate balance of sex hormones (oestrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone) is needed for the timely growth and release of the egg from the ovary (ovulation).
Hormone imbalances can cause ovulation disorders in women and are the most common cause of infertility in women.

Fallopian tube damage
The fallopian tube is where fertilisation takes place, after the egg is released from the ovary into the tube and is met by sperm. Full or partial blockage of the fallopian tubes will prevent fertilisation.
Damage to the fallopian tubes can be caused by inflammation as a result of viral or bacterial infections, some types of sexually transmitted diseases, or complications of surgery such as adhesions or scarring.

Uterus and cervical disorders
Benign growths on the uterine wall, such as fibroids or polyps, can contribute to infertility as they interfere with the attachment of the embryo to the wall of the uterus.
Abnormalities in the shape of the cervix or changes in the texture of the cervical mucus can make it difficult for the sperm to move from the vagina into the uterus.

Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus forms at inappropriate places within and outside of the reproductive tract. It can block the fallopian tubes and/or disrupt ovulation. It occurs in about 10 per cent of women.

Immunological factors
The presence of antibodies to sperm in cervical mucus can cause infertility. In other cases, the mother's immune system prevents the embryo from attaching to the wall of the uterus and so causes a miscarriage.

Polycystic ovaries
Polycystic ovaries contain lots of small cysts, making the ovary larger than normal. The condition, called polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), is also associated with high levels of androgen and oestrogen. Women with PCOD have irregular periods and may not ovulate, resulting in infertility.

Ovarian failure
Ovarian failure can be a consequence of medical treatments (for ovarian tumours for instance), or the complete failure of the ovaries to develop or contain eggs in the first place (for example, Turner's Syndrome).The treatment for ovarian tumours may involve surgical removal of all or part of the ovary. Ovarian failure can also occur as a result of treatments such as chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy for cancers in other body areas. These therapies destroy eggs in the ovary.

Ageing
Age is a critical factor affecting the fertility of a woman and many women today are delaying having children. Some of the common reasons include education and career demands, financial stability, second marriages and relationships, and waiting for a suitable partner.
Reproductive function declines as a woman ages, particularly after the age of 35. Women are born with a finite number of eggs, unlike men who produce sperm most of their adult life. In the years approaching menopause, there are fewer and fewer eggs left in the ovary. The quality of eggs also diminishes as a woman gets older. By the late thirties, there is an increase in chromosome abnormalities that can result in birth defects like Down's syndrome.
Ageing can also affect other reproductive organs and functions, such as the uterus, hormone production, and ovulation. There is also a higher incidence of miscarriage in women in their late thirties.
Delaying children isn't always avoidable, but infertility treatments cannot reverse the ageing process and should not be thought of as a safeguard that will ensure a pregnancy at some point in the future. The success rates of IVF for women over 35 are much lower than for younger women