5 Common causes of infertility

Infertility is the inability of a Couple to achieve conception (pregnancy) after one full year of regular, unprotected, penetrative, vaginal sexual intercourse.
We urge couples who are unable to conceive after a year to consult a specialist.

It is however essential for couples who want conceive to have sexual intercourse regularly, at-least thrice weekly, especially around the time of the menstrual cycle when the woman ovulates.

Here are the top 5 causes of infertility and possible remedies

1. Fibroids

Fibroids are noncancerous growths in and around the uterus area. The growth of fibroids causes infertility by blocking the fallopian tubes and reducing the number of sperm that enters the uterus.

The presence of fibroids is usually diagnosed with a pelvic ultrasound; two in three women with fibroids don’t experience symptoms.
Some symptoms of fibroid growth include abdominal pain, painful periods and pain during sex, etc
Infertility caused by fibroid is usually resolved through surgery (myomectomy).

2. Sperm Count

Also known as sperm concentration, a normal sperm count is at least 15 million sperm cells per 1mL of semen. Sperm count less than this decreases the possibility of any sperm cells reaching the woman’s egg in the fallopian tubes from the vagina where they are ejaculated, and the condition is called oligospermia (low sperm count). Wearing of tight underwear (boxers) increases the temperature of the scrotum which can negatively affect sperm production, leading to low sperm count.
Sometimes, there may be no single sperm cell in the man’s ejaculate, a condition called azoospermia.

3. Erectile dysfunction

When a man is unable to attain or maintain an erection, whether, for psychological or physical reasons, he won’t be able to have regular or proper intercourse.
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by psychological factors (stress or depression, medical conditions ( eg. Diabetes) and age.
Treatment of Erectile dysfunction can involve undertaking lifestyle changes, surgery or medications.

4. Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a cause of infertility in women where normal uterine tissue grows outside the uterus. The main symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, often associated with severe menstrual cramps.
Women diagnosed with Endometriosis undergo Laparoscopy( a minor surgical procedure for treating Endometriosis).

5. Ovulation Disorders


Most women ovulate every 21 to 35 days. This is when there is no ovulation at all (anovulation) or the ovulation cycle is more than 35 days (oligo-ovulation). Medical therapy is often required for ovulation disorders.

If you found this tip useful, don’t forget to share with your friends and family with the share button on the top right of this page.

For more advice and help, feel free to ask a Doctor online.

Back to Top