Infertility Health Article

Prevention

Prevention of infertility involves avoiding many of the various problems that can cause infertility. Since sperm count declines with age, insemination is more likely to occur with younger men than older men. Males can preserve maximal fertility by maintaining optimal temperatures in their testicles by wearing non-binding undergarments. People should avoid exposure to coal-based products such as tar and soot as they are associated with infertility. Protecting the testicles from trauma helps to preserve fertility. Immunization for mumps is important.

Women are maximally fertile in the beginning of their third decade of life. Thereafter, conception becomes more difficult. Avoiding or promptly treating sexually transmitted diseases lessens the possibility of endometriosis and pelvic adhesions. Limiting the number of male partners improves fertility as antibodies against sperm will not be formed. Hasty decisions to perform tubal ligations as a means of birth control may be regretted if marital arrangements change. Although tubal ligations can be reversed, subsequent pregnancy rates are not 100%.

KEY TERMS

Blastocyst—A cluster of cells representing multiple cell divisions that have occurred in the fallopian tube after successful fertilization of an ovum by a sperm.

Cervix—The opening from the vagina that leads into the uterus.

Embryo—The stage of development of a baby between the second and eighth weeks after conception.

Endometrium—The lining of the uterus.

Fallopian tube—The tube leading from the ovary into the uterus; there are two fallopian tubes.

Fetus—A baby developing in the uterus from the third month to birth.

Ovary—The female organ in which eggs (ova) are stored and mature.

Ovum (plural: ova)—The reproductive cell of the female that contains genetic information and participates in the act of fertilization. Also popularly called the egg.

Semen—The fluid that contains sperm that is ejaculated by the male.

Sperm—The reproductive cell of the male that contains genetic information and participates in the act of fertilization of an ovum.

Spermatogenesis—The process by which sperm develop to become mature sperm, capable of fertilizing an ovum.

Zygote—The result of sperm successfully fertilizing an ovum, the zygote is a single cell that contains the genetic material of both the mother and the father.

BOOKS

Aronson, Diane. Resolving Infertility. New York: Harper Resource, 1999.

Peoples, Debby, and Harriet R. Ferguson. Experiencing Infertility: An Essential Resource. New York: Norton,2000.

Speroff, Leon, Robert H. Glass, and Nathan G. Kase. Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 6th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1999.

Treiser, Susan, and Robin K. Levinson. Infertility. A Woman Doctor's Guide. New York: Kensington Publishing Corp,2001.

PERIODICALS

Mastroianni, Luigi, et al. "Helping Infertile Patients." Patient Care (October 15, 1997): 103+.

ORGANIZATIONS

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 409 12th St., S.W., P.O. Box 96920, Washington, D.C. 20090-6920. <http://www.acog.org>.

American Infertility Association. 666 Fifth Avenue, Suite 278, New York, NY 10103. (718) 621-5083. <http://www.americaninfertility.org>. info@americaninfertility.org.

American Society for Reproductive Medicine. 1209 Montgomery Highway, Birmingham, AL 35216-2809.(205) 978-5000. <http://www.asrm.com>.

International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination, Inc. P.O. Box 6836, Arlington, Virginia 22206. (703) 379-9178. <http://www.inciid.org>.

Resolve: The National Infertility Association. 1310 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144. (617) 623-0744. <http://www.resolve.org.> resolveinc@aol.com.

OTHER

Internet Health Resources. <http://www.ihr.com/infertility>. IVF.com. <http://www.ivf.com>.

National Library of Medicine. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infertility.html>.

"Trying for a Year." WebMd.com <http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3606.512>. Accessed July 30, 2001.

Worldwide Infertility Network. <http://www.ein.org>.

L. Fleming Fallon, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Dr.P.H.