Infertility occurs when a woman cannot conceive after engaging in frequent, unprotected sexual activity for at least a year (six months if she is over 35) without experiencing any results. It can affect people of both sexes and have a variety of causes. Here is a summary:

Ovulation disorders, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, uterine fibroids, or issues with the cervix or uterus can all contribute to female infertility. Hormonal abnormalities, age, and lifestyle choices including smoking, binge drinking, and obesity can all be contributing causes.

Issues with sperm production, sperm quality, or sperm delivery can all contribute to male infertility. Male infertility can be caused by a number of causes, including genetic disorders, hormone imbalances, infections, varicoceles (enlarged veins in the testes), and lifestyle choices like smoking, drug use, and excessive alcohol consumption.

To diagnose infertility, a thorough medical history, physical examination, and other tests are needed. These might include hormone level tests, imaging techniques including ultrasounds, and hysterosalpingograms (HSGs), which evaluate the uterus and fallopian tubes in women. Males may be subjected to tests such as semen analysis to ascertain the quantity, shape, and motility of sperm.

The treatment plan is based on the underlying cause of infertility. It may entail changing one's lifestyle, using medication to trigger ovulation, undergoing surgery to correct anatomical issues, or utilizing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IVF, ICSI, or IUI (intrauterine insemination). Counseling and support are often referred to couples who want help handling the psychological repercussions of infertility.

For couples, infertility can be emotionally taxing, resulting in stress, anxiety, and melancholy. Coping with these difficulties may benefit from the assistance of counselors, support groups, and medical professionals.

The reason of infertility, an individual's age, and other variables all affect how well infertility treatments work. While some couples may not be able to conceive or may need more sophisticated procedures, others may become pregnant with treatment. It's imperative that infertile couples research every available therapy option and look for medical assistance. Many couples wanting to conceive now have hope thanks to recent developments in infertility therapies.