Recently, more and more people personally learn what infertility is. The inability to have children is perceived by many as a sentence. But do not despair and abandon the happiness of being a parent. Modern medicine has developed a number of effective methods with which you can cure infertility and conceive a child.
Infertility: General Information
A disease of the reproductive system, characterized by the inability of a woman or man to reproduce offspring, is called infertility in medicine. Marriage is considered sterile if pregnancy does not occur during two years of regular sexual life without contraception. According to various sources, from 10 to 15% of couples of reproductive age face this problem. In 20% of cases, the main reason for divorce is the inability to have children.
The diagnosis of infertility can only be made by a doctor based on the results of the examination. In the occurrence of the disease, genetic and immune factors are of particular importance. Infertile marriages due to pathology in women occur in 59% of cases, due to violations of the male reproductive system - d 6%, in both spouses - in 29%.
There are absolute infertility - irreversible changes in the reproductive organs (developmental abnormalities, trauma, surgical removal of the sex glands) and relative - restored changes.
Classification of female infertility
Female fertility is more common than male fertility. The fair sex is very painfully endure the inability to become a mother. A woman is diagnosed with infertility if she is unable to become pregnant during a year regularly having sex without contraception. After the examination, the anamnesis is refuted or specified with a more expanded wording. Infertility is a disease that, like any other, is classified. The following types are distinguished:
By the presence of pregnancy:
- primary - the inability to conceive from the very beginning of childbearing age;
- secondary - the inability to conceive a child again.
If the first pregnancy ended in spontaneous miscarriage or the birth of a dead child, the diagnosis of primary infertility is made. In secondary pregnancy, it should end with the birth of a viable fetus.
These species are also called the degrees of infertility in women - the first and second, respectively.
By the ability to conceive:
- absolute - the possibility of conception is completely excluded (with non-treatable ovarian dysfunction, lack of fallopian tubes, uterus, malformations of reproductive organs);
- relative - low probability of pregnancy, which can be increased with proper treatment.
By pathogenesis:
- congenital infertility due to genetic or prenatal pathology;
- acquired - is associated with the negative impact of various factors on the reproductive system.
By duration:
- temporary - the inability to become pregnant is due to natural passing causes: puberty, lactation;
- permanent - caused by reasons that cannot be eliminated (lack of fallopian tubes);
- physiological - associated with etiological factors (before puberty, postmenopausal period).
Causes of infertility
An etiological factor fundamental in the search for solutions to the problem. About certain factors that influenced the development of pathology, a woman may not even be aware. The main causes of infertility are diseases of various genesis.
- Hormonal disorders. As a result of the disruption of the pituitary gland, the generative function of the ovaries fades, the ratio of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones (hormonal infertility) is violated. Ovarian dysfunction is also manifested by a lack of ovulation, an excess or lack of estrogen production.
- Genetic or congenital malformations of the reproductive system: atresia of the uterus, torsion or absence of the ovary, doubling or absence of the vagina (uterine infertility).
- Obstruction or absence of one or both fallopian tubes (tubal fertility). Adhesive process is usually the result of inflammatory processes caused by a chronic infection. The absence of fallopian tubes is observed after surgery in connection with pyosalpinx, ectopic pregnancy.
- Endometriosis - the growth of the endometrium of the uterus. Tissues spread to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder (endometriosis infertility).
- Damage to the genital organs with tuberculous mycobacteria (Koch's wand).
- Adhesions in the pelvis. Connective tissue cords formed between the ovary and the tube interfere with the passage of the egg into the tube. With adhesions in the ovary, the ovum from the follicle is disturbed. With deformation and occlusion of the fallopian tubes, fertilization is impossible.
- The presence in the woman’s body of antibodies to sperm antigens (immunological infertility).
- Psychogenic disturbances. A woman consciously or unconsciously does not want to have children. The reason for this may be a fear of pregnancy, a fear of dying during childbirth, or a reluctance to have a child from a particular man.
Much less often, the causes of fertility are unclear (idiopathic infertility). A full comprehensive examination does not reveal the reasons why partners can not conceive a child.
Symptoms
To answer the question of what is infertility, you do not need to have a medical education. The definition of the term is the inability to conceive a child. Inability to get pregnant is the main symptom of pathology. The expanded clinical picture depends on pathological changes in the body of a woman.
- with inflammation of the genital organs caused by an infection of a woman, they complain of mucopurulent discharge;
- atrophic processes in the endometrium are characterized by a lack of “lubrication” of the vagina;
- with primary infertility, painful rare menstruation is observed;
- with fibromas, genital cysts, women suffer from regular pains in the lower abdomen and perineum;
- endometriosis is accompanied by discomfort during sexual intercourse, pelvic pains in the first two days of menstruation;
- prolactinoma causes headaches, emotional instability.
Some pathological changes are practically not manifested in any way and are determined only after examination. With obstruction of the fallopian tubes, a woman has regular menstruation, without pain. Periodically occurring discomfort in the lower abdomen is attributed to fatigue, excessive physical exertion.
Antibodies to sperm antigens do not have any negative effect on a woman’s health. Immunological fertility has no symptoms other than the inability to get pregnant. People do not even suspect what infertility is until they encounter a problem.
Neoplasia of the internal organs can also not manifest themselves for a long time. Soreness appears when the tumor reaches critical sizes.
Malformations are detected, as a rule, in early childhood. Their symptoms depend on the complexity of the anomaly and the degree of negative impact (in addition to fertility) on the woman's body.
Diagnosis: objective examination
The causes and methods of treating infertility in women are determined by the results of a full examination. Multi-stage diagnostics are carried out by several narrow specialists.
History taking. The gynecologist collects information about the patient’s health and finds out the following:
- regularity of sexual activity;
- nature of menstruation: regularity, duration, intensity;
- the presence of pregnancy, abortion, how much time a woman can not conceive a child;
- hereditary or brought, chronic diseases of the patient;
- at what age did a woman begin to live sexually, the number of partners, the nature of sexual relations with a man from which she cannot become pregnant.
Inspection The doctor evaluates the physique, development of the mammary glands, pelvis, the nature of hair growth.
In laboratory diagnostics, the study of the concentration of hormones in blood plasma and urine is important.
- the level of prolactin, luteotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone shows the functionality of the ovaries;
- analysis for testosterone, cortisol, T3, T4, TSH are given on the 5-7th day of the menstrual cycle, according to the results, the effect of steroid and thyroid hormones on the follicular phase is evaluated;
- ovulation and the work of the corpus luteum of the ovaries are evaluated by progesterone level. The test is taken on the 20-22 day of the cycle;
- urine levels of 17-ketosteroids (Dehydroepiandrosterone, Etiocholanolone, Androstenedione), DHEA-C show the degree of functionality of the adrenal cortex.
Also, a woman surrenders:
- blood, urine tests, smear for infections: HIV, HPV, herpes, syphilis, cytomegalovirus, gonococcus, chlamydia and others;
- research on antispermal bodies;
- general blood and urine tests.
Some tests need to be taken at a strictly defined time.
Instrumental methods for the diagnosis of fertility
To accurately determine how to treat infertility, a woman's body is examined using various equipment.
- Ultrasound of the internal genital organs is a research method that displays the structure, size of the uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, ovaries. Allows to identify benign and malignant uterine hyperplasia, endometriosis, polycystic ovaries.
- Ultrasonic hysterosalpingoscopy is a diagnosis with the help of which organic pathologies of the uterus, obstruction of the fallopian tubes, the presence of connective tissue cords in the small pelvis are revealed.
- Colposcopy is a research method by which pathological changes in the cervix, including cancer, are determined.
- Diagnostic curettage - taking a scraping of the mucous membrane of the cervix and body of the uterus for further histological examination.
- Craniography is necessary to exclude neuroendocrine pathologies.
Surgical Examination Methods
There are 2 types of surgical diagnostic methods:
- Hysteroscopy is a method for diagnosing endometriosis, neoplasia in myometrium, polyp, endometrial cancer using endoscopic equipment.
- Laparoscopy. Using the procedure, a visual assessment of the pelvic organs is performed.
Indications for hysteroscopy:
- infertility I and II degree, frequent miscarriages;
- suspected endometriosis, uterine malformations;
- uterine fibroids;
- unsuccessful attempts at in vitro fertilization.
Indications for laparoscopy:
- primary infertility;
- obstruction of the fallopian tubes;
- ectopic pregnancy;
- endometriosis;
- ovarian cyst.
Surgical endoscopic methods are used both in the diagnosis and in the treatment of infertility. The methods are less traumatic, but highly effective.
Further - on the treatment of the disease in more detail.
Methods of treating infertility in women
The solution to the question of therapy is made on the basis of the results of the diagnosis and finding out the causes of the disease. Therapeutic methods are aimed at restoring a woman's sexual function in a conservative or surgical way.
Conventionally, therapeutic methods can be divided into 2 types. The main ones are the restoration of reproductive function with subsequent natural conception, and the auxiliary ones are a set of procedures in which conception occurs outside the woman's body.
The main methods of treating infertility:
- Medication. Medicines are used to eliminate infection and inflammation, which complicates the fertilization process. Antibiotics are prescribed for genital infections with tuberculosis. Conservative tactics are used as a complement to surgical (laparoscopic endocoagulation) for the treatment of endometriosis.
- Hormonal Ovarian rupture, the release of an egg into the fallopian tube is regulated by certain hormones. Treatment of hormonal disorders and stimulation of the ovaries is carried out using hormonal drugs. Such drugs are prescribed for weight correction, overweight is an indirect cause of infertility. The course of taking hormones is a mandatory stage of IVF.
- Physiotherapy is used in chronic inflammatory processes. For example, mud therapy and magnetotherapy help to restore the patency of the fallopian tubes if it is disturbed as a result of the inflammatory process caused by sexual infection. Procedures contribute to strengthening the overall health of the expectant mother.
- Alternative. Alternative treatment of infertility in women is not officially recognized. However, the vast majority of people believe that if infusions, baths eliminate the cause of the pathology, then they should be used.
Alternative Therapies
There are many popular recipes for fertility therapy. Despite the fact that infusions, decoctions are prepared from natural components, the use of funds must be coordinated with a gynecologist. When treating infertility with herbs, remember that some plants are powerful allergens. It is better to refuse multicomponent fees; use recipes with a maximum of 3 ingredients.
Common wormwood is considered a "female" grass. Infusions, decoctions are drunk with various gynecological diseases.
- Infusion. 40 g of dry raw materials pour 200 g of boiling water, insist an hour. The infusion is passed through a filter. Take a tablespoon three times a day before meals. The course lasts 2 weeks, then take a break for a week and repeat again.
- Decoction. 1 tbsp. a spoon (with a slide) of dried grass is poured with water (300 g) boiled for about five minutes. The resulting hot liquid is set aside for an hour. The broth is filtered, I drink 100 g 2 times a day before meals for a month.
No less effective in infertility are the herbs of the heather family: Umbrella ancillary, pine forest uterus, and wintergreen. An infusion of a mixture of these plants is used for douching. For its preparation, each herb is taken in 50 g, pour 1.5 l of hot water and insist until cool. The filtered liquid is douched daily at bedtime for 2 weeks.
Supportive fertility treatments
What is infertility? This is the inability to conceive a child. If, after determining the cause of the disease and conducting therapeutic measures, the woman still cannot become pregnant, additional reproductive technologies are used.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a technique involving the conception and initial stages of embryogenesis outside the body of a woman. The method is resorted to with the ineffectiveness of other methods of treating fertility.
- Artificial insemination - the introduction of pre-prepared sperm into the uterine cavity through a thin catheter.
- Surrogacy - the bearing and birth of a genetically alien child by a surrogate mother.
Based on reviews on the treatment of infertility in women using reproductive technologies, the cost of the procedures is too dissatisfying. Many patients consider clinics to take advantage of the lack of medical education in patients and impose unnecessary services on them. In order to avoid unnecessary procedures, you can seek advice from an independent specialist - a gynecologist in a free clinic.
Male infertility: causes and therapeutic methods
The inability of a man to fertilize in medicine is called male infertility. According to statistics, in 4 cases out of 10, a couple cannot have children due to reproductive dysfunction in a representative of the stronger half.
There are several causes of infertility in men. Treatment is based on fertility development factors.
- ejaculation disorders - disorders of the ejaculation process. As a result of difficulties with the release of seminal fluid, the fertilization process becomes difficult or impossible;
- urinary tract obstruction;
- violations of the production of epithelial secretions in the epididymis;
- varicocele - expansion of the veins of the spermatic cord, leading to a decrease in the testicles and a decrease in the formation of seminal fluid;
- spermatogenesis disorders;
- chronic inflammatory processes in the genitals;
- congenital malformations of the reproductive system;
- endocrine diseases;
- neoplasms in the testicles.
Men rarely leave feedback on the treatment of infertility. Failure to impregnate a woman depresses the stronger sex. In most cases, medicine can help a man become a father. In inflammatory processes, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. Endocrine disorders correct hormone-stimulating therapy. doctors advise spouses to take a vacation and relax together in nature, the sea. If treatment fails, use donor sperm.
Who is eligible for free infertility treatment?
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