Infertility - Sexual Health Peer Resource Center

The definition of infertility is the inability to conceive after a year or more of sexual relations without the use of contraception. While infertility is not a common problem for students at Stanford (or for most college students), it is an important aspect of sexual health. Infertility can be the result of reproductive problems in males and females, and while sometimes failry elusive, there is a lot of information on both sides of the issue.

There are two types of infertility:

Primary Infertility = never had a a full-term delivery because of miscarriage or because the woman has never been pregnant before
Secondary Infertility = infertility subsequent to previous pregnancy which includes people who have either given birth or had an abortion

Possible causes of infertility:

Reproductive cells
- males: low sperm count, poor sperm mobility
- females: old eggs (especially when woman is over 35)
Damage to reproductive organs
- males: scar tissue in delicate passages (like vas deferens), untreated STDs
- females: bad abortions, bad IUDs, PID, untreated STDs, scar tissue in fallopian tubes or ovaries (which destroys cilia that move eggs or block egg’s passageway, thereby increasing likelihood of ectopic pregnancy)
Hormonal methods of birth control
- females: temporary infertility is prompted by methods such as Depo Provera, but this condition should end within approximately 6 months (after discontinuation of birth control method)
Structural
- males: retrograde emissions (male sperm goes into the bladder)
- females: slanted uterus (uterus is a floating organ that may be tilted away from ejaculation stream), endometriosis (uterine lining grows into the fallopian tubes)
Menstrual problems
- females: irregular periods make it difficult to know when fertile, amenorrhea may occur in women who have less than the 22% body fat needed to support a child

Suggestions for treatment of infertility:

In males: harder to treat; no “tighty whities,” hot baths, or saunas; also possibility of taking androgens if testosterone is low
In females: basal body temperature method; use a pillow to prop uterus and make cervix closer to ejaculate; gain weight; avoid hormonal methods of birth control


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	General Pregnancy Pregnancy Testing Infertility	Infertility The definition of infertility is the inability to conceive after a year or more of sexual relations without the use of contraception. While infertility is not a common problem for students at Stanford (or for most college students), it is an important aspect of sexual health. Infertility can be the result of reproductive problems in males and females, and while sometimes failry elusive, there is a lot of information on both sides of the issue. There are two types of infertility: Primary Infertility = never had a a full-term delivery because of miscarriage or because the woman has never been pregnant before Secondary Infertility = infertility subsequent to previous pregnancy which includes people who have either given birth or had an abortion Possible causes of infertility: Reproductive cells males: low sperm count, poor sperm mobility females: old eggs (especially when woman is over 35) Damage to reproductive organs males: scar tissue in delicate passages (like vas deferens), untreated STDs females: bad abortions, bad IUDs, PID, untreated STDs, scar tissue in fallopian tubes or ovaries (which destroys cilia that move eggs or block egg’s passageway, thereby increasing likelihood of ectopic pregnancy) Hormonal methods of birth control females: temporary infertility is prompted by methods such as Depo Provera, but this condition should end within approximately 6 months (after discontinuation of birth control method) Structural males: retrograde emissions (male sperm goes into the bladder) females: slanted uterus (uterus is a floating organ that may be tilted away from ejaculation stream), endometriosis (uterine lining grows into the fallopian tubes) Menstrual problems females: irregular periods make it difficult to know when fertile, amenorrhea may occur in women who have less than the 22% body fat needed to support a child Suggestions for treatment of infertility: In males: harder to treat; no “tighty whities,” hot baths, or saunas; also possibility of taking androgens if testosterone is low In females: basal body temperature method; use a pillow to prop uterus and make cervix closer to ejaculate; gain weight; avoid hormonal methods of birth control