Fertility and Causes of Infertility


The term fertility is used to refer to the natural capacity to become pregnant and deliver a baby to term. This is usually considered infertile when a couple has been actively trying to conceive (having unprotected intercourse regularly) in 12 months (or 6 months when the woman is over 35 years old) of age with no success. Both men and women may be infertile and in many cases there will be a number of causes that are acting in combination.


Infertility is an emerging issue in India, and most couples postpone having a child, are exposed to environmental stressors, and lack awareness. When couples are in need of expert help they tend to search for fertility treatment in Delhi or a Fertility doctor in Delhi or even fertility treatment near me. A name that is known in the Fertility community of Delhi is that of Dr. Chanchal Sharma, who might be a provider of special fertility services or advice in the area.



Key causes of infertility


Following are some of the underlying causes and risk factors observed in infertility:


Ovulation disorders: Disorders of ovulation are one of the most common causes in women. Incident ovulation can also be caused by disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hormonal imbalances (e.g. hyperprolactinemia), or premature ovarian insufficiency. 


Low quality eggs / age: With age, the number of eggs and quality of eggs drops, particularly after 35 years, making fertility low and increasing the risk of miscarriage. 


Damage or obstruction of the fallopian tubes: Fallopian tubes may be blocked or obstructed by scarring, infections (e.g. pelvic inflammatory disease), endometriosis, or previous surgeries, which prevent the meeting of the egg and sperm. 


Endometriosis / uterine abnormalities: The endometrial tissue that grows outside the uterus (endometriosis), uterine fibroids, uterine adhesions, or structural defects may become an obstacle in implantation or embryo growth. 


Male factor infertility: In almost a third of all cases, male factors including low sperm count, poor sperm movement (motility), abnormal sperm shape (morphology), hormonal imbalance, varicocele or genetic defects play a major role. 


Unexplained infertility: Sometimes there is no apparent cause after an exhaustive examination. This is referred to as unexplainable infertility and some of the potential concealed causes may be timing, mild defects in egg or sperm or fertilization failure or immunological reasons. 


Lifestyle, environmental and systemic: Obesity or underweight, smoking, exposure to toxins or pollutants, stress, sexually transmitted infections, and chronic diseases (e.g. thyroid disorders, diabetes) have an impact on fertility as well.


Outlook & treatment approaches


The condition of infertility can be treated in most conditions particularly where diagnosis is done in good time. Interventions differ with the cause and severity of the disorder and may involve:

  • Medications to induce ovulation: Ovulation induction medications such as clomiphene citrate, letrozole, gonadotropin injections or metformin (particularly in PCOS) may be used to trigger ovulation. 


  • Surgical interventions:: Laparoscopic surgery can be used to fix tubal obstructions or cure endometriosis, eliminate fibroids, or dislodge adhesions. 


  • Assisted reproductive technologies (ART): When other treatments are unsuccessful, one may resort to intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). 


  • Lifestyle changes and supportive care: Optimization of weight, cessation of smoking, stress management, underlying medical management, and harmful exposures are some of the measures that help to increase the success rates. 

In particular, early consultation is important, particularly when you are above 35 years old, or when you have known risk factors, including irregular cycles, past surgeries, or past pelvic infection. A successful pregnancy has high prospects of success with the help of medical breakthroughs, lifestyle transformations, and professional instructions (e.g., the advice provided by professionals like Dr Chanchal Sharma).