Infertility has been defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after one year of regular intercourse without the use of contraceptives. The definition has also come to include couples who are able to conceive but, due to repeated miscarriages, are unable to carry a pregnancy to term.
There are numerous causes of infertility. In men, these include environmental and hormonal factors that affect the production of healthy, motile sperm and normal semen, as well as blockages that affect the delivery of sperm. In women, the causes are more varied since she plays a greater role in reproduction. First, one of the organs involved in reproduction may be absent, mal-formed or non-functional. Second, the organs may be normal, but the complex hormonal feedback system that is necessary to support follicular development, ovulation and implantation of the fertilized egg may be disrupted
The number of couples seeking treatment has increased steadily. This is partly due to the growth in the population of childbearing age and the increase in the number of women delaying childbearing into their thirties. The increase in infertility patients is also due to the development of medical techniques to treat or bypass the effects of sexually transmitted diseases, endocrine disorders and other causes of infertility that are on the rise due to lifestyle and environmental changes.
While medical treatment may be essential for most couples to overcome infertility, as important is psychological support. Infertility treatment can be time-consuming, expensive, frustrating and complicated. Most couples need help sorting out the options and making decisions. While some of them find their doctors helpful, others turn to books, support groups, Internet mailing lists, organizations and counselors specializing in treating infertile couples.
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Often, moral and ethical dilemmas may arise for some couples during the course of their treatment, and they may seek advice from religious leaders and other sources to deal with these issues. Each couple must look inwards to assess their needs carefully, and find their own ways of meeting them.
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