Parenthood is one of the most desired goals in adulthood, and most people have life plans that include children at some point. However, not all couples who want to get pregnant will do so spontaneously. It’s crazy, we spend our lives trying not to get pregnant and then hope we can get pregnant easily when we want to start a family. A proportion of couples will need to seek medical treatment to help resolve fertility problems. Infertility has been recognised as a public health issue worldwide by the World Health Organisation (WHO). I see that medical aids like Discovery are also starting to recognise fertility problems and are adding fertility benefits to medical aid plans.
What is infertility?
“Infertility is when you cannot get/stay pregnant after trying for at least 1 year and you are under the age of 35,” says Dr Sulaiman Heylen President of the Southern African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG). 1/4 couples in developing countries are affected by infertility, while 1/6 couples worldwide experience some form of infertility problem at least once during their reproductive lifetime. The current prevalence of infertility lasting for at least 12 months is estimated to affect between 8 – 12% worldwide for women aged 20 to 44.
Why the increase in infertility?
In recent years, the number of couples seeking treatment for infertility has dramatically increased due to factors such as;
- Postponement of childbearing in women
- Development of newer and more successful techniques for infertility treatment and increasing awareness of available services.
- This increasing participation in fertility treatment has raised awareness and inspired investigation into the psychological ramifications of infertility. It can cause stress, depression, and anxiety, which is why it is important to know that there are options available for treatment.
Age is a key factor
“Up to 50% of all patients who visit a fertility center are 35 or older. We cannot stress enough how important it is not to wait too long when considering having children. Young women need to be aware that there is a decline in fertility from their 20s until the age of 35, after which it starts to decrease rapidly until the age of 45,” says Dr Heylen.
“It’s important for couples to investigate fertility options and preservation earlier in life. A woman who is not ready to have a child can choose to freeze her eggs to preserve her ability to have a child later,” says Dr Heylen.
Physiology
It’s estimated that 20 – 30% of infertility cases are explained by physiological causes in men, 20 – 35% by physiological causes in women, and 25 – 40% of cases are because of a problem in both partners. In 10 – 20% no cause is found. Infertility is also associated with lifestyle factors such as smoking, body weight, and stress. A woman’s age is one of the most important factors affecting whether she is able to conceive and give birth to a healthy child. This is due to several changes that are a natural part of aging:
- The number and quality of eggs (ovarian reserve) decreases naturally and progressively from the time a woman is born until the time she reaches menopause.
- It is not only more difficult to get pregnant (conceive), but miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities in the child (such as Down syndrome) are more common in older mothers.
- Fibroids, endometriosis, and tubal disease are more common and can affect fertility.
- Women who become pregnant at an older age have a higher risk of complications during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
The decrease in a man’s fertility appears to occur later in life than in a woman’s fertility. In their mid-to-late 40s, men experience changes in their sperm that can cause issues with fertility, and chromosomal or developmental problems with their children.
Lifestyle and family history
If you have any of the following risk factors, you may also consider seeking advice earlier:
- Family history (i.e. mother or sister) of early menopause (before age 51)
- History of cigarette smoking in either partner
- Previous ovarian surgery
- Exposure to chemotherapy or radiation to treat cancer in either partner
- Shortening in the time between periods
- Skipped or missed periods
- History of injury to the testicles
- Exposure to toxic chemicals (certain pesticides or solvents)
Pregnancy is a complex process
Pregnancy is the result of a process that has many steps.
To get pregnant:
- A woman’s body must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation).
- A man’s sperm must join with the egg along the way (fertilise).
- The fertilised egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the uterus.
- The fertilised egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation).
Infertility may result from a problem with any of these steps. For the pregnancy to continue to full term, the embryo must be healthy and the woman’s hormonal environment adequate. When just one of these factors is impaired, infertility can result.
Couples are advised to seek medical help if they are unable to achieve pregnancy after a year of unprotected intercourse. The doctor will conduct a physical examination of both partners to determine their state of health and to evaluate physical disorders that may be causing infertility. Usually, both partners are interviewed about their sexual habits to determine whether intercourse is taking place properly for conception.
If no cause can be determined, more specific tests may be recommended. For women, these include an analysis of ovulation, x-ray of the fallopian tubes and uterus, and laparoscopy. For men, initial tests focus on semen analysis. “Based on the results of the tests, a treatment plan will be made which can include medication, surgery or assisted reproduction,” says Dr Heylen.
Treatment options
It is estimated that more than 9 million babies have been born since the first IVF baby was born in 1978. Most assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments take place in women aged between 30 – 39. The most common fertilisation technique is ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) accounts for 3/4 of all treatments, and IVF around 1/4. Success rates from frozen embryo transfer are increasing, as are the number of frozen cycles. Vitrification, as an efficient cryopreservation technique, has improved the outcome of both embryo and oocyte (immature egg cell) freezing.
Infertility often creates one of the most distressing life crises that a couple has ever experienced together. The long-term inability to conceive a child can evoke significant feelings of loss. Coping with medical decisions and uncertainties that infertility brings can create emotional upheaval for couples.
“If you find yourself feeling anxious, depressed, out of control, or isolated, you are not alone,” says Dr Heylen. “Infertility is more common than you may think, but there is no reason to lose hope. Visit a fertility clinic near you to speak to a doctor about the options available to you and your partner.”
For more information, visit www.merckfertilityjourney.co.za
