What It Is, Causes, Signs & Homeopathic Management of Infertility
Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex.
Male Infertility
Male infertility is inability to get a fertile woman pregnant in spite of regular unprotected sexual intercourse for at least one year.
Male infertility can be due to Azoospermia (no sperms in semen), oligospermia (less sperms in semen) and reduced sperm motility and altered morphology.
Male infertility accounts for nearly half of the cases of infertility.
What happens in Male Infertility?
- Inability to make fertile female partner pregnant
- Problems with sexual function: Ejaculation problems, impotency, low libido
- Abnormal growth of breast in men
- Less facial or body hair
- Pain, swelling, lumps or visible dilated veins in scrotal area
What causes Male Infertility?
- Low sperm count or absence of sperms: Sperm count less than 15 million per milliliters of semen or less than 39 million per ejaculate. Certain infections like Sexually transmitted diseases can cause damage to testicles affecting sperm quality and production. Absence of sperms can be due to testicular and hormonal reasons (low testosterone).
- Physical causes: Sperms are formed in testis but cannot reach to penis due to problem in tubes which carry them. Tubes can get blocked due to surgery, infections and trauma
- Ejaculation problems : Various ejaculation problems can cause Male Infertility like erectile dysfunction (impotency), retrograde ejaculation (sperms goes back into bladder instead of going out through penis), low libido and premature ejaculation. Erectile dysfunctions can be due to medical conditions like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, heart diseases. It can also be due to psychological reasons and also as a result of side effects of some medicines.
- Autoimmune diseases (Anti sperm antibodies) : These are immune system cells identify sperms as enemies and starts killing them.
- Cancer and tumors of male reproductive organs
- Birth defects : This includes un- descended testicles where testicles fail to descend down the scrotum.
- Chromosomal defects and genetic diseases can also cause problems in functioning of testicles.
- Others : Other rare causes include certain medicinal side effects, celiac disease, surgeries, exposure to chemicals and radiations.
- Over heating of testicles : It can affect sperm production
- Consumption of alcohol and smoking
- Exposure to chemicals can lead to low sperm count.
What can Male Infertility lead to?
- Stress and low self confidence
- Marital discord and dissatisfaction
- Depression
- Expensive treatment for the underlying cause
Female Infertility
Female Infertility is inability to conceive due to female problems in spite of practicing regular unprotected intercourse for at least one year.. There could be many causes which may lead to female infertility.
What happens in Female Infertility?
- Inability to conceive in spite of unprotected intercourse for a year
- Irregular periods
- Long menstrual cycle (more than 35 days) or very short (less than 21 days) (normal cycle should be 28+/- 7 days)
What causes Female Infertility?
- Ovulation Problems: Ovulation is a process when a mature egg is released from the ovary. This egg travels through fallopian tubes. This egg needs to be fertilized by sperm for pregnancy to occur. If, there is no ovulation, there will be no chance of pregnancy. Common problems are Anovulation (absence of ovulation), poor ovarian reserve and ovarian cancer.
It can be due to hormonal imbalances as seen in Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD), substance abuse, premature ovarian failure, thyroid diseases, excessive weight gain or weight loss, hypothalamic dysfunction and excess of prolactin hormone (due to dysfunction of pituitary gland, situated in brain) and extreme stress.
- Tubal factor: Fallopian tubes are tubes where egg meets sperm and gets fertilized. If both the tubes are blocked, it prevents the fertilization. Blockage of tubes can be due to many reasons including Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases, pelvic tuberculosis, pelvic surgery leading to adhesions, infections, endometriosis, scars or adhesions, history of ectopic pregnancy, congenital problem, medicines like DES (Diethylstilbestrol) and chronic illness.
- Uterine factors: Abnormal structure of uterus, presence of fibroids, polyps, endometriosis may cause infertility.
- Cervix problems: Any abnormalities in the cervical mucus, anti sperm antibodies, cervical stenosis may prevent the entry of sperms inside uterus leading to infertility.
Rare vaginal factors like vaginal obstruction can also cause Infertility in woman.
Unexplained causes: Sometimes, there could be no cause found for causing infertility.
What can Female Infertility lead to?
Female Infertility causes childlessness. It may further lead to-
- Hopeless and depression
- Family discord and disturbed relationships
- Need for time and money for expensive and elaborate fertility treatment (including artificial insemination, IVF, and other procedures)
Home Remedies
Do’s:
- Practice sex more often preferably, every alternate day to increase your chance of conception. Track your fertilized period and plan intercourse accordingly. Most fertile period is the day of ovulation (usually 12 to 16 days before the menstrual period begins).
- Maintain ideal weight
- Reduce stress with meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques
Don’ts:
- Do not perform rigorous exercise
- Limit intake of caffeine, alcohol.
- Do not smoke
Diet & Nutrition
Foods to Eat
- Include foods rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C like tomatoes, oranges, blue berries, cranberries walnuts, dark chocolate play significant role in production of sperms. Antioxidants protect sperms from oxidative damage.
- Zinc rich foods like oysters, poultry, diary, nuts, eggs, whole grains
- Folic acid rich food like leafy greens, beans, fruits
- Pumpkin seeds, pomegranate and flax seeds
Following vitamins and minerals increase the chances of fertility and regulate the female hormonal system very effectively:
- Folic acid: Foods like asparagus, green vegetables, fruits
- Vitamin C: Fruits like oranges, mangoes, strawberries, gooseberry, broccoli, lemon, kiwi
- Zinc: Oysters, eggs, fish, soy products
- Selenium: Meat, fish, whole grains
- Iron: dates, beetroots, dark vegetables, dry fruits, liver
- Healthy fats, whole grains, low fat diary products
- Organic foods
Foods to avoid
- Excess of caffeine
- Alcohol
- High mercury level sea foods
- Unhealthy fatty and sugar laden foods like junk foods, refined sugars
What is the best treatment for Infertility?
Homeopathic treatment for infertility can help you enjoy the bliss of motherhood & fatherhood.
Homeopathy can achieve wonderful results in treatment of Infertility.
Few of our amazing remedies in Homeopathic treatment of MALE INFERTILITY include:
- SELENIUM : Excellent remedy for male infertility with increased desire but decreased ability. Dribbling of semen during sleep.
- ORCHITINUM : Great remedy for premature senile loss of sexual power. It is good in cases of sexual weakness and debility.
- NUPHAR LUTEUM : Medicine for complete absence of sexual desire. Impotency with relaxed parts. There is involuntary emission during stool.
Few of our amazing remedies in Homeopathic treatment of FEMALE INFERTILITY include:
- SEPIA: One of the excellent remedies for repeated abortions in 5th to 7th month of pregnancy causing infertility. For violent vaginal itching which induce abortion along with weak, dragging and bearing down sensation; patient feels as if everything will come out of the vagina.
- AURUM METALLICUM: A very effective remedy for female sterility which causes severe depression. Also treats women who have repeated abortion which results in hardening and ulceration of womb. Regulates menstruation which is late and scanty.
- MAGNESIUM PHOSPHORICUM: Effective remedy for female infertility, where there is H/O of severe menstrual colic. Excessive pain before the flow starts. Great weakness, soreness, bruised feeling which gets increase by lying down. Better by heat and with flow of menstruation.
It is, however, worthwhile to remember that self-medication is not recommended.