Infertility: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Its Homeopathic Treatment
Introduction
To reproduce had been one of the main desired attributes of mankind
for a long. It also defines their social status. Most couples start
dreaming about their children immediately after marriage or within 2-3 years.
But some couples fail in starting a family when they wish for it and in
developing countries like India, couples have to face many difficulties related
to reproduction. Especially, the position of women is defined by their
reproductive capacity and their failure to do so due to any reason leads to
social and cultural repercussions for them.
Women express consistently lower
scores on mental health, social functioning, and emotional behavior domains in
quality of life and experience higher levels of stigma than men. They are
called “Banjh” by others and there is no respect for her.
Infertility
Infertility is a disease or a condition when a couple fails to
conceive even after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse
without the use of any procedure of birth control.
It may be that any one or both the partners cannot contribute to
conception, or that a woman is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term.
Prevalence
About 10% to 14% of the Indian population is suffering from
infertility, as per a report, given by ‘Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction’(ISAR).
This rate of infertility is high among the urban population,
with one out of six couples experiencing the problem, according to the report. Worldwide, 8 to 12 percent of couples experience the problem of
infertility (WHO, 1991).
Types of Infertility
There are 2 types of infertility
Primary
infertility: This refers to couples who never become pregnant even after
1 or more years of having unprotected sex without using birth control methods.
Secondary
infertility: This refers to those couples who previously have been able to
get pregnant at least once, but now are unable.
Causes
There are many physical and emotional factors responsible
for infertility. It may be due to problems in the man, woman, or both.
Infertility due to the problem in females
- An-ovulation – It is a condition when the ovaries do not release an ovum during a menstrual cycle. This is one of the biggest reasons for female infertility.
- Blocked Fallopian tubes – Fallopian tubes are a pair of hollow structures which connects the uterus to the ovaries and where fertilization occurs.
Blockages or scarring of these
tubes leads to a lack of fertilization of sperm with the ovum.
- Endometriosis – It is a chronic and painful condition where the lining of uterine tissue is found outside the uterus. It may be found in the Fallopian tubes, cavities of the ovary, bowel, urinary bladder, and inside the peritoneal cavity on the ovaries. The scar tissue made due to this condition may cause infertility.
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - PCOS is a common hormonal imbalance resulting in a lack of ovulation, irregular periods, and infertility.
It is characterized by the
appearance of many small cysts in the ovary as seen on an ultrasound.
- Fibroids – Fibroids are very common benign (non-cancerous) overgrowth that develops in the muscular wall of the uterus. Sometimes fibroids can be asymptomatic, but most of the time due to their size and location, fibroids can lead to problems for some women like abdominal pain and heavy bleeding. Fibroids also can cause infertility and recurrent miscarriages.
- Premature Ovarian Failure - Women who are 40 years old or younger and whose ovaries no longer function to ovulate eggs are diagnosed with premature ovarian failure (POF). These young women potentially lose their reproductive capabilities.
- Older ladies, who want to conceive – It is difficult for women over 40 to get pregnant, even if they are ovulating and having a period.
Secondary Infertility
Even
having one or more children, many couples faced infertility for various reasons.
Some rare causes of female infertility
- Autoimmune disorders, such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)
- Birth defects that cause defective reproductive tract
- Cancer or tumor of the uterus or ovaries
- Systemic diseases like uncontrolled Diabetes and Thyroid disorders
- Consuming too much alcohol
- Excessive smoking
- Too much Exercise
- Malnutrition or extreme weakness
- Some medicines such as chemotherapy drugs
- Hormone imbalances
- Obesity
- Old age
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
A woman is most fertile in her early 20s. The chances of a woman
getting pregnant greatly decrease after the age of 35 and more. The age when
fertility starts to decline varies from woman to woman. Infertility problems
and miscarriage rates increase significantly after 35 years of age.
Infertility due to the
problem in MALE
Some common causes of Male infertility are:
- Impotency / lack of erection
- Low Sperm count
- Blockage in the duct which carries sperm
- Poor or defective quality of sperm
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Excessive Smoking
- Drugs abuse
- Hormonal imbalance
- Systemic diseases like Diabetes
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Prostate problem
- Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation
- Continuous exposure to high heat for prolonged periods
- Obesity
- Older age
- Injury, or any surgery of the testes or nearby region
Risk Factors Responsible
for Infertility
There are some lifestyle and health factors that can increase
infertility:
- Older age (being older than 35 (for women)
- Overweight or Underweight
- Excessive exposure to environmental toxins, like lead or pesticides
- Excessive alcohol intake or drug abuse
- Smoking or tobacco chewing
- A history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Injury to the scrotum and testes
- Tight undergarments may lead to the overheating of testicles
- Having an undescended testicle
Diagnosis
Diagnosis mainly depends on medical history, any medication,
sexual habits, and physical examinations of both partners. To confirm the
diagnosis some laboratory tests and the radiological test may be needed.
Infertility tests for men
- Semen analysis: To know the quantity and quality of sperms.
- Blood test: To know the levels of testosterone and other hormones.
- Ultrasound: To know about any obstruction in the ejaculatory duct or retrograde ejaculation.
- Chlamydia test: To rule out Chlamydia infection.
Infertility tests for women
- Blood test - To assess the hormonal imbalance in a woman, if any.
- Laparoscopy – This test has to be done to investigate any signs of endometriosis, blockages, scarring and other problems in the uterus and Fallopian tubes.
- Pelvic ultrasound - To rule out any abnormality in the pelvic organs.
- Hysterosalpingography - Fluid is injected into the woman's uterus and X-rays are taken to determine any blockage in the Fallopian tubes. If a blockage is present, surgery may be needed.
- Genetic testing - To see any genetic abnormality which may be interfering with fertility.
- Chlamydia test - To rule out Chlamydia infection.
- Thyroid function test - To rule out any hormonal imbalance.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause of infertility. To treat
infertility, first, we have to treat the underlying cause. Treatment also
depends on the general state of health of the couple.
The couple may be advised to have sexual intercourse more often
around the time of ovulation to increase the chances of fertilization of sperm
with egg.
Complications
Infertility treatment can cause some complications. Unsuccessful
attempts for a long time can lead to stress and depression in couples.
Ectopic pregnancy
This is when a fertilized egg implants outside the womb, usually
in a Fallopian tube. If it stays in there, complications can develop, such as
the rupture of the Fallopian tube. This pregnancy has no chance of continuing.
It is a surgical condition.
Women receiving fertility treatment have a slightly higher risk
of Ectopic Pregnancy. An ultrasound scan can detect an Ectopic Pregnancy.
Homeopathic Management for Infertility
Infertility is a major physical problem as well as a great
social stigma for couples. Couples who are suffering
from Infertility problems, invest a lot of money in different
investigations and treatments and do further costly treatments like IVF, but few are
successful. They always search for a natural way to control Infertility
problems.
Homoeopathy has the best solution for infertility which is why
more and more couples are now turning towards homeopathy. Homeopathy treats
Infertility not as a disease, but as its root cause. Homeopathic
treatment for Infertility is stimulating and supporting a natural conception
progressively.
Homeopathic treatment is based on the selection of the right
medicine that suits the constitution and the condition of the infertile couple.
Some common homeopathic remedies like Agnus castus, Aurum mur natronatum,
Borax, Caladium seguinum, Calcarea carbonica, conium, Damiana, Lycopodium, Natrum carbonicum, Natrum muriaticum, Pulsatilla, Sepia, etc., which works by –
- Increasing the sperm count and improving the quality of sperm.
- Correcting Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
- Correcting menstrual irregularities and Improving ovulation cycles.
- Reducing stress & depression and getting rid of any emotional blockages and negative thoughts.
- Treating any underlying cause like thyroid problems and uterine growths like a fibroid.
A case of Secondary
infertility due to repeated miscarriage
This is a case of a 30 years old lady with one daughter of 7
years. She was trying for a second child for the last 4 years. This time she
succeeds two times to conceive, but each time she faced a miscarriage in the 3rd month
without any reason.
Repeated blood tests and ultrasounds have not revealed any
pathological problems. Her gynecologist was not having any idea why this has
happened.
Then she came to our clinic for a consultation about this problem.
After proper case-taking and analysis of her symptoms and history, I advise her
to get a semen analysis for her husband. The semen test was also perfect. Then I
started giving medicine to her.
Within a month, she got pregnant, which was not
a difficult task as she has already been conceived thrice (one successful and two
miscarriages). Now the main challenge has started- how can we prevent the
miscarriage?
By suggesting some do’s and don’ts and with proper homeopathic
medicines, we were successful to carry her pregnancy to full term without
any problem. After 9 months, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The family
was very happy. According to them, they have completed their family,
now.
After her successful pregnancy, she sent at least 3-4 women
struggling with difficulty in conceiving or having the problem of miscarriages.
And by god grace, all succeeded in giving birth to healthy babies.
Homeopathic medicines which were given to her:-
- Viburnum opulus Q
- Sepia 30 to 200
- Aconite 30 for anxiety during the 3rd month
About the Author: Dr. Rahul Singh
Dr. Rahul Singh is a registered Homeopath and Certified Nutritionist with over 16 years of experience and recipient of multiple awards, helps busy people in this fast life, re-energize with tips on a healthy diet, yoga, beauty, health, and wellness strategies that have an impact on their life.
