There are many common causes of infertility such as endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOS) and the like. But are you aware that life-style factors play a part too; Such as a postponing childbearing, poor diet such as anorexia or obesity, toxic habits/substance abuse, increased exposure to environmental toxins and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) all influence the reproductive process. Let’s take a look.

It is estimated that out of 100 young and healthy heterosexual couples attempting to conceive naturally, in any one month, approximately 25 couples will be successful and approximately 75 will fail.

True infertility occurs in only a few specific situations:

• Women with fallopian tubes that are blocked
• Women that do not have a uterus or any egg follicles (menopause/ Premature Ovarian Failure [POF])
• Men who do not have any sperm

In these true infertile situations, conception will only occur with the use of certain medical interventions. Any other diagnoses, besides the three above, represent some degree of sub fertility. That means that given a long enough period of time, there is a slight chance that these couples could conceive naturally without medical intervention.

For women, the most common reason for infertility is a disorder with ovulation that may prevent the development of a viable egg. Other common reasons include blockage of the fallopian tubes, which can be caused by endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), adhesions and scarring; a poor ovarian reserve or ovarian failure caused by aging or other factors; or a defect in the female anatomy that affects the movement of the egg into the uterus or prevents implantation.

• Ovulation Disorders: Any disruption of the brain that regulates ovulation can cause low levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) will affect ovulation. Even the slightest irregularity in the hormone system. Some causes of hypothalamic-pituitary disorders include injury, tumors, excessive exercise and starvation. High or elevated levels of the hormone prolactin, which stimulates breast milk production, may affect ovulation. It is called hyperprolactinemia. Prolactin levels that are elevated may also indicate the presence of a pituitary tumor. Occurs in about 40 percent of infertile cases.

• Age: The proportion of women in the U.S. having their first baby at or after age 30 has quadrupled since the mid-70s. This is important because the probability of having a baby decreases by 3 to 5% a year after age 30 and even faster after the age of 40. One thing to remember, fertility is not like a light bulb. Meaning, you flip the switch and all of a sudden it’s off. Some women are very fertile into their early 40s, while others become less fertile in their mid-to-late 30s. Consult with your RE doctor and discuss his/her opinion of your fertility.
• Endometriosis: An estimated 70 percent (5.5 million) American women have some form of endometriosis, which is a painful, non-cancerous condition of the endometrium. This condition is caused by the endometrial tissue that lines the uterus begins to grow outside of the uterus onto the pelvic organs and sometimes the intestines.  Normally, women shed the endometrium during menstruation, but if you have endometriosis, that tissue isn’t shed; it builds up, which causes inflammation, internal bleeding and scar tissue. 
• STDs: Americans switched from non-barrier methods of contraception ie., condoms and diaphragms, which in essences raised the risk of catching a STD like gonorrhea, chlamydia or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and compromised the woman’s ability to conceive and bear a child.

• Cervical Factors: If a woman's mucous fails to thin around the time of ovulation, it can consequently prevent the sperm from traveling through it. Most likely this cause is a cervical infection causing the infertility.

• PCOS/Syndrome O: One in 10 American women will be diagnosed with this disease. It is characterized by a woman’s body producing too much androgen/testosterone (a male hormone) in which case the ovaries follicles bunching up and become cystic (lump together).  These cysts don’t release mature eggs and in essence can cause a woman to not ovulate, not have a period that month and not have any period at all. PCOS is associated with insulin resistance and obesity.

• Tubal Factors: Abnormality of the fallopian tubes such as scarring, blockage or damage caused by scarring from previous surgery, infection, or a previous tubal ligation accounts for 20-30 percent of infertility in couples.

• Diethylstilbestrol (DES): This synthetic hormone was given to women during the 1950s and 1960s. DES is estrogen. Mothers who were at risk of miscarrying, took this hormone while pregnant. Their children are at a high risk for certain reproductive tract cancers and menstrual irregularities. Many DES girls have an abnormally shaped uterus that can lead to repeated miscarriages.

• Pelvic Adhesions. Bands of scar tissue that bind organs after pelvic infection, appendicitis, or abdominal or pelvic surgery, which causes scar tissue to form can impair fertility.

• Benign Uterine Fibroids: Found in and around the uterus, these non-cancerous tumors are the most common in women of childbearing age, and very prevalent in women in their 30s. Pain during your menstrual cycle, excess bleeding and bleeding between periods, can be symptomatic of uterine fibroids.

• Uterine Factors: Abnormal reproductive organs may make it difficult for the fertilized egg to implant.

• Unexplained Fertility: There is no obvious cause of infertility in about 10-20 percent of couples.

• Caffeine: Excessive amounts of it have been shown to have an adverse effect on fertility.

For men, the most common reason for infertility is a problem with the sperm. Sperm problems may involve the quantity, quality, and/or motility of the sperm. Sometimes a man may not produce any sperm, or perhaps just too few sperm. In other cases, sperm may be malformed and die before they have a chance to fertilize the egg. Problems with the delivery of sperm from the penis into the vagina may also be a cause for infertility. These problems include erectile dysfunction, problems with ejaculation, or blockage of the ejaculatory ducts. Infectious diseases, such as mumps, or an inadequate production of certain sex hormones can lead to a low sperm count. Usually counts for about 40 percent of the infertile cases.

• Sexual problems: If the man is impotent or has problems with premature ejaculation, doctors can help him address these issues. Behavioral therapy and/or medicines can be used in these cases.

• Too few sperm: If the man produces too few sperm, sometimes surgery can correct this problem. Antibiotics can also be used to clear up infections affecting sperm count. In other cases, doctors can surgically remove sperm from the male reproductive tract.

• Hormone Deficiencies: Male hormone deficiencies such as testosterone can affect sperm production. The age at which males enter puberty can be an indicator of hormonal disorders. Doctors will usually ask questions about when puberty was started.

• Injury: Accidents or sports injuries can cause damage to the male reproductive system resulting in infertility.

• Retrograde Ejaculation: Retrograde ejaculation is caused when the nerves or muscles in the bladder do not work properly. Rather than moving forward, the sperm is transported backwards into the bladder and out through the penis. Sometimes men will have cloudy urine after an ejaculation.
• Diethylstilbestrol (DES): was given to women during the 1950s and 1960s. DES is a synthetic estrogen, mothers took while pregnant who were at risk for miscarriage. DES boys are prone to cysts in their reproductive tract, undescended testicles and other fertility problems.

• Caffeine: Excessive amounts of it have been shown to have an adverse effect on fertility.