A quote, "Infertility does not discriminate," by the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, explains where the world today stands regarding the infertility rate. Around 17.5% of the adult population, or 1 in 6, is experiencing infertility. There is limited variance in infertility between regions, and both men and women are victims of this major health challenge. The number of childless couples is growing, and the population is becoming older. Male Infertility and Female Infertility are serious issues we need to discuss. To overcome this problem, every one of us needs to know what infertility is and how to overcome it.
What is infertility?
In medical terminology, if the male or female reproductive system fails to achieve pregnancy even after 12 months or so of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse, then it is termed infertility. In couples, a male or female partner or both might be suffering from infertility when they remain childless, even after repeated attempts over a year.
Across the world, millions of people are struggling to have a baby, and it is worth remembering that male infertility and female infertility is curable.
Infertility across the globe
The World Health Organization (WHO), the world's governing body that works on safeguarding international public health, stressed in its report how infertility is a global concern now that equally affects the rich and poor across the world.
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Global Infertility
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Causes of infertility
In Males
About half the infertile cases across the world originate from men, and this tells us that male infertility needs meaningful diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Sarah Kimmins, a researcher at the CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM) and a renowned expert in male fertility and gene-environment interactions, says about male infertility
"The quick drop in men's ability to have babies isn't just because of genes. It's mostly because of things in our environment. These things mess with our hormones and stay in the world around us. Other reasons are more overweight and obese men, bad eating habits, stress, using cannabis, drinking alcohol, and smoking or vaping. Sadly, most men don't know about these reasons."
Géraldine Delbès, a researcher at the Institut national de la Recherche scientifique, says,
"Right now, doctors decide if a man can have babies by looking at his family history, doing a physical check-up, checking his hormone levels, and doing a basic sperm test. This way of testing hasn't been updated for over 50 years."
Another researcher, Moira O'Bryan, says, "The quality of sperm is dropping, and more cases of testicular cancer and birth defects in the reproductive system are happening around the world. This shows that men's reproductive health has gotten worse in the past few decades. We need to do more research to figure out why this is happening and how we can make things better."
Men should see a doctor if they experience:
- Few sperm or issues with sperm.
- Past issues with testicular, prostate, or sexual health.
- Undergone cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
- Had hernia surgery.
- Testicles smaller than usual or swollen veins in the scrotum.
- Faced infertility issues with a partner previously.
- Have family members with infertility problems.
In Females
Ovulation in women produces eggs for sperm for fertilization, and it eventually develops into an embryo. Female infertility is caused by a variety of factors. Challenges to female fertility encompass irregular ovulation, fallopian tube blockages, and uterine abnormalities like fibroids and endometriosis.
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Sperm and Ova Fertilization to form Egg
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Women should see a doctor if they experience:
- A menstrual cycle that's too long (35 days or more) or too short (less than 21 days) or irregular or absence of periods (ovulation)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Repeated miscarriages
- Undergone cancer treatment
- Problem in Uterus
The Role of a Healthy Diet in Eradicating Infertility
In Women
Adopting a balanced diet and staying active are fundamental pillars of a healthy lifestyle, aiding in weight management and lowering the likelihood of chronic diseases (WHO, 2020). Nutrition significantly influences fertility outcomes for both men and women. In a substantial study involving 17,544 participants from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS)-II, researchers observed that women who followed a fertility-focused diet—rich in full-fat dairy, iron, monounsaturated fats, and plant protein—had a 66% reduced risk of ovulatory disorder-related infertility and a 27% decreased risk of infertility from other causes, compared to those with the lowest intake of such foods (Chavarro et al., 2007).
In Men
Men can improve their sperm health by
- Prioritize vegetables in the diet, opting for organic or thoroughly washed options.
- Substitute processed meats with fish for a healthier protein intake.
- Limit consumption of trans fats found in fried junk food.
- Reduce soy intake.
- Check for BPA in canned goods and choosing BPA-free alternatives minimizes plastic use.
- Moderate consumption of high-fat dairy products such as ice cream and whole milk.
- Avoid smoking cigarettes for overall health improvement.
- Incorporate walnuts into the diet unless you are allergic to nuts.
- Consider weight loss if you are overweight to improve your overall health.