INFERTILITY

If getting pregnant has been a challenge for you and your partner, you're not alone. Ten percent to 15 percent of couples in the United States are infertile. Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year.In some cases, an infertile woman may have abnormal menstrual periods. An infertile man may have some signs of hormonal problems such as changes in hair growth or sexual function. The human reproductive process is complex. To become pregnant, the intricate processes of ovulation and fertilization need to work just right.

Causes of Male Infertility

A number of things can cause impaired sperm count or mobility, or impaired ability to fertilize the egg. The most common causes of male infertility include abnormal sperm production or function, impaired delivery of sperm, general health and lifestyle issues, and overexposure to certain environmental elements.

IMPAIRED PRODUCTION OF SPERM

Most cases of male infertility are due to problems with the sperm, such as:

Impaired shape and movement of sperm.

Low sperm concentration

Varicocele.

Undescended testicle.

Testosterone deficiency

Genetic defects.

Infections.

IMPAIRED DELIVERY OF SPERM

Problems with the delivery of sperm from the penis into the vagina can result in infertility. These may include:

Sexual issues.

Retrograde ejaculation.

Blockage of ejaculatory ducts.

No semen.

Misplaced urinary opening.

Anti-sperm antibodies.

GENERAL HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE

A man's general health and lifestyle may affect fertility. Some common causes of infertility related to health and lifestyle include:

Emotional stress

Malnutrition

Obesity

Cancer and its treatment

Alcohol and drugs

Age

Pesticides and other chemicals

Overheating the testicles

Environmental exposure

Substance abuse

Tobacco smoking

CAUSES OF FEMALE INFERTILITY

The most common causes of female infertility include fallopian tube damage or blockage, endometriosis, ovulation disorders, elevated prolactin, polycystic ovary syndrome, early menopause, benign uterine fibroids and pelvic adhesions. These include:

Fallopian tube damage or blockage.

Endometriosis.

Ovulation disorders.

Elevated prolactin.

Polycystic ovary syndrome.

Early menopause.

Benign uterine fibroids.

Pelvic adhesions.

Other causes.

Medications

Thyroid problems.

Cancer and its treatment.

Other medical conditions.

Caffeine intake.

Some infertile couples have more than one cause of their infertility. Your doctor will usually begin a comprehensive infertility examination of both you and your partner.

Tests for Men

For a man to be fertile, the testicles must produce enough healthy sperm, and the sperm must be ejaculated effectively into the woman's vagina. Tests for male infertility attempt to determine whether any of these processes are impaired:

General physical examination.

Semen analysis.

Hormone testing.

Transrectal and scrotal ultrasound.

TESTS FOR WOMEN

For a woman to be fertile, the ovaries must release healthy eggs regularly, and her reproductive tract must allow the eggs and sperm to pass into her fallopian tubes to become fertilized by a sperm. Her reproductive organs must be healthy and functional.

Ovulation testing.

Hysterosalpingography.

Laparoscopy.

Hormone testing.

Ovarian reserve testing.

Genetic testing.

Pelvic ultrasound. Pelvic ultrasound may be done to look for uterine or fallopian tube disease.

Not everyone needs to undergo all, or even many, of these tests before the cause of infertility is found. Which tests are used and their sequence depend on discussion and agreement between you and your doctor.Unexplained infertilityTreatment of infertility depends on the cause, how long you've been infertile, the age of the partners and many personal preferences. Some causes of infertility can't be corrected. However, a woman can still become pregnant with assisted reproductive technology or other procedures to restore fertility.

Restoring Fertility

These approaches can involve steps related to the male or to the female, or both. Increase frequency of intercourse.

ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TREATMENT

In vitro fertilization. This is the most effective technique. Involves retrieving mature eggs from a woman, fertilizing them with a man's sperm in a dish in a laboratory and implanting the embryos in the uterus three to five days after fertilization.

Complications of Treatment

Certain complications exist with the treatment of infertility. These include:

Multiple pregnancies

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Bleeding or infection

Low birth weight

Birth defects

1. In most cases infertility is caused from tension, depression, or any number of emotions, can affect fertility.

2. Our natural treatment addresses sexual desire, frustration. sex organs and the endocrine center.

3. Good health conditions in all organs should be helping each other, by balancing the Yin and Yang energy will help blood flow between the organs and help sexual organs to become normal.

4. We can help with fallopian tube blockage without surgery and eliminate uterus infections.

5. All bodies are different; all treatments are different according to what is needed.

ACUPUNCTURE and INFERTILITY

Acupuncture, frequently combined with herbal medicine, has been used for centuries to treat some causes of infertility. For example, acupuncture and herbs will not work to address tubal adhesions which can occur as a result of pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis. However, in this situation, an individual could still benefit from acupuncture and herbs because of the potential effect of improved ovarian and follicular function. Additionally, it is shown that acupuncture can increase blood flow to the endometrium, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining.

When should acupuncture treatment begin?
Acupuncture is similar to physical therapy in that it is a process oriented method of medical intervention. It is better to do more than less. Patients are commonly treated for three to four months before an insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or donor-egg transfer. This period of treatment seems to have a therapeutic effect.

When should I stop getting acupuncture?
Typically most miscarriages occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Therefore, treatment of patients may often last through week twelve to help prevent miscarriage.