Male and female infertility can be caused by various factors including egg quality or problems with sperm or egg production. Infertility could also be affected genetics, age, or too much exposure to certain chemicals and toxins. Underlying systemic disease may also result in infertility.
You may be infertile if you are a woman who is:
- under 35 and unable to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse.
- 35 to 37 and unable to conceive after 6 months of regular, unprotected intercourse
- over 37 and trying to conceive
Infertility in women can also result from:
- polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- endometriosis and adenomyosis (tissue that is normally found only in the uterus is found outside the uterus on the ovaries or other pelvic organs)
- blocked fallopian tubes
- fibroids
- exposure to sexually transmitted infections
- cancer treatments (e.g., chemotherapy or radiation)
- smoking
- obesity
- excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption
Infertility in men can result from:
- scrotal varicocele (varicose vein around a testicle)
- retrograde ejaculation
- undescended testis
- exposure to sexually transmitted infections
- cancer treatments (e.g., chemotherapy or radiation)
- smoking
- obesity
- excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption
With men, age does not affect fertility the same way as it does for women – yet it is still a factor. The quality of sperm (and testosterone levels) may decrease as a man ages.