April 16th 08 - A visit with the Gynecologist 4 - Dr Etkin once again joined Let's Talk, this time to explain Infertility and to share the facts with listeners.
Some important points mentioned were the reasons for infertility in men and women as well as risk factors, the signs and symptoms, and also treatment options. The emotional side of the infertility issue was also mentioned, since persons can sometimes feel totally lost or even inadequate by their inability to have a child.
In men; infertility is often caused by problems making sperm, producing too few sperm or none at all or problems with the sperm's ability to reach the egg and fertilize it or abnormal sperm shape or structure prevent it from moving correctly. Sometimes a man is born with the problems that affect his sperm. Other times problems start later.
Risk factors for men's infertility includes:
- alcohol
- drugs
- environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead
- smoking cigarettes
- health problems
- medicines
- radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer
- age
In the case of women Dr. Etkin mentioned causes such as problems with ovulation , the presence of fibroids, blocked fallopian tubes, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or Endometriosis.
Factors which would increase a woman's chances of Infertility includes:
- age
- stress
- poor diet
- athletic training
- being overweight or underweight
- tobacco smoking
- alcohol
- sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- health problems that cause hormonal changes
More and more women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children. Especially in first world countries like the US, and increasingly in the caribbean; many women now have their first child after age 35. So age is an increasingly common cause of fertility problems.
Aging decreases a woman's chances of having a baby in the following ways:
- The ability of a woman's ovaries to release eggs ready for fertilization declines with age.
- The health of a woman's eggs declines with age.
- As a woman ages she is more likely to have health problems that can interfere with fertility.
- As a women ages, her risk of having a miscarriage increases.
Most healthy women under the age of 30 shouldn't worry about infertility unless they've been trying to get pregnant for at least a year. At this point, women should talk to their doctors about a fertility evaluation. Men should also talk to their doctors if this much time has passed.
Some of the feelings you may experience include:
- Loss: You may feel a sense of loss for the child or children you imagined having one day.
- Anger and jealousy: You may feel angry at life in general. You may also feel angry or jealous that parenthood seems to come easily to others.
- Denial: You might tell yourself that you just know next month will bring a positive pregnancy test, and then, when it doesn’t, feel a huge sense of sadness and shock.
- Shame: Women may feel that a diagnosis of infertility makes them less feminine, while men may feel that a diagnosis makes them less masculine. You may also feel that you are somehow less of a person if you can’t have a child on your own.
- Lack of Control: You may feel a lack of control, knowing that there is nothing you can do to guarantee or know if treatments will work.
Infertility can also put stress on your relationship, with studies showing that couples dealing with infertility are more likely to feel unhappy with themselves and their marriages.
If you find yourself feeling constantly sad or anxious, not sleeping well or oversleeping, feeling completely isolated, or having thoughts of death and dying, then it is especially important that you speak to your doctor about your feelings.
If you have questions or need more information please see your health care professional.
Dr Richard Etkin OB/GYN can be reached at The Atlantic Star Center of Medical Excellence in South Hill Anguilla.
Office Phone: (264) 497 -0765