Infertility is defined by most as the inability to become pregnant or sustain pregnancy after one year of regular sexual activity without the use of contraceptives. Pregnancy can only occur when a chain of events happens uninterrupted. First, the woman must ovulate. The egg must be able to travel down the fallopian tube and be fertilized by a viable sperm. Then the fertilized egg must be implanted into the uterus. The uterus must be able to support the pregnancy. If any of these systems are interrupted, then infertility may occur.

Male infertility can be caused by problems with producing sperm, sperm count or sperm mobility. Sometimes the sperm produced can be misshapen or distorted in a way that prevents it from moving correctly. This prevents it from reaching the egg. Sometimes men are born with this problem. Other times there are other factors causing the sperm count or mobility to be low. Illness, injury and disease can cause problems with the sperm that result in male infertility.

A man’s lifestyle can affect his infertility as well. Alcohol, drugs, poor diet, smoking, medications, extreme inactivity or too much exercise can all affect a man’s fertility. Age may be a significant factor. The older a man gets, the more likely he is to experience fertility problems. A fertility specialist may be able to help you diagnose what is causing your infertility, although sometimes a cause can not be determined.

Female infertility is often caused by problems with ovulation. Ovulation is when an egg is released from the ovary. Problems with ovulation can usually be detected by monitoring the menstrual cycle of the woman. If the cycle is irregular or has ceased, then there may be an ovulation problem.

If there is an egg to be fertilized, then it must be able to travel down the fallopian tube. If there is a blockage, then implantation in the uterus can not occur. If a fertilized egg gets stuck in the fallopian tube, then it can cause an ectopic pregnancy. Endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and uterine fibroids can be other causes of infertility in women. Sometimes the uterus itself can be structurally misshapen or too distorted to support a pregnancy.

Many lifestyle factors should be considered when determining the cause of a female’s infertility. Age, illness, hormonal changes or imbalances, smoking, weight, alcohol use, smoking, exercise level and diet should all be evaluated. Sexually transmitted diseases can also cause infertility. Weight is a common cause of infertility. If a woman weighs too little or too much, it can affect the signal from the brain that tells the ovary to release the egg.

There are many causes of infertility for men and women that are not discussed here. You should talk with your doctor or infertility specialist about what specific causes of infertility you might be experiencing. Careful planning, lifestyle changes, hormonal treatments or surgery could help you conceive. The best thing to do is to come up with an infertility treatment plan that is right for you.