What are the signs of infertility? Have you been trying to conceive for what seems like ‘too long’? Getting worried? At what point should you make an appointment with your doctor? This scenario can be very upsetting for any couple!
According to fertility-health.com, an online portal that provides general knowledge about human health, there may be unnoticeable reasons why couples may be having trouble conceiving.
Experts say there are numerous reasons why a couple may be having problems conceiving, and the most evident signs of infertility may lie within their lifestyle.
Contributing factors can include lifestyle issues such as stress, being over- or underweight, substance abuse or environmental toxins. Nutrition can also play a huge part in reproductive health and can certainly contribute towards certain signs of infertility.
There are certain symptoms that couples should look out for, which doctor should be alerted to when dealing with problem of infertility. These symptoms are clues to help the doctor make the correct diagnosis to help couples in their situation. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the more opportunity couples have to deal with the issue. As such, doctors advise not to delay seeing a qualified medical expert.
Statistics show that men are equally as likely to have fertility problems as women. Impotency, erection or ejaculation difficulties may be symptoms of other underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Normal visual appearance of semen
Should semen be ‘thick’ or ‘runny’? Why does it appear ‘watery’ sometimes? Is this one of the signs of infertility? Many men are concerned about what the normal consistency (appearance) of their semen should be, and if this has any relation to their sperm count.
Consistency of semen can vary greatly from one man to another. It is common for this to occasionally vary (either ‘thick’ in texture or sometimes becoming more ‘watery’ in looks) depending on factors such as diet, dehydration, frequency of ejaculation, etc. So, for that reason, there is no defined ‘normal appearance.’ It is normal for semen to liquefy shortly after ejaculation. Semen is usually a semi translucent off white/gray colouring, and can sometimes have a slight yellow tinge.
Experts warn that you cannot tell how fertile you are by just the ‘look’ of your ejaculate alone. Only a sperm analysis can accurately determine a man’s sperm concentration. They say, however, that if a man notices any substantial or persistent changes to his regular semen appearance/colour, he should seek advice from a doctor.
Low sperm count
There are all sorts of factors that can contribute to this sign of infertility. They include alcohol, smoking or drug abuse; poor diet, environmental toxins, wearing tight underwear (bad circulation/heat), constantly sitting with legs crossed, bike riding (cutting off circulation and overheating), hot baths, having had a high fever within the last three months, X-rays and radiation.
Fertility experts recommend lifestyle changes if couples want to get positive result about their fertility issue.
Experts warn that men may not realise that they can suffer from hormone imbalances – just as women do – and that when they do, it can be a sign of infertility. They warn, “Symptoms vary, but it is still important to let your doctor know if you notice any of the following signs as they may be clues: unexplained weight gain or loss; loss of muscle tone, headaches; anxiety/depression/mood swings; fatigue, low sex drive, acne/skin problems, breast enlargement, hair loss, puffiness/bloating, prostate enlargement symptoms (urinary problems), gallbladder problems like indigestion, pain under the ribs on the right hand side; light coloured stools, etc.
Men can contract infections of the reproductive tract through sexual contact, poor immunity, surgery complications and other medical factors. Men are advised to undergo check-ups for any sexually transmitted infections, as these often show no physical signs straight away. Bacterial or viral infections can also affect the sperm count for some time afterwards.
Though these problems are there, the good news is that there are many treatments available with today’s medical knowledge and breakthroughs to help with fertility challenges.
One tested and proved supplement that has been known to help in the treatment of male infertility is Addyzoa, a herbo-mineral whose ingredients are also used in a number of anti-ageing, rejuvenating and virilising formulations. Thus, various studies suggest that the medicinal plants used in the formulation of Addyzoa are potent and novel therapeutic agents for the regulation of pathological conditions that may lead to male infertility.
According to Dr. Ajit Vaze, a consultant urogynaecologist and fertility treatment expert, “The individual constituent herbs in Addyzoa has been extensively studied for their ability to make men produce healthy sperms, while also acting as anti-oxidants.”
He says further, “Addyzoa is effective in improving the semen quality by increasing the sperm count and enhancing sperm motility and morphology. Treatment with Addyzoa resulted in a larger increase in sperm count, while a significant increase of 1.5 to 2 times in motility was also observed with Addyzoa.”
He assures that Addyzoa is a better option for treating male infertility, as it also provides an advantage over Ubiquinone (a supplement usually prescribed by doctors) in terms of cost of therapy.
Among women, some of the causative factors for infertility include age. It is not unusual for a woman to delay having a child in modern society, and the reasons range from building a career and financial security, to marrying later in life.
Experts say that for women, fertility declines with age, and this may start in the late 20’s for some people. However, they say, that is not to say that advanced age means that a woman cannot get pregnant, only that a woman’s chances of conceiving lessen with each passing year.
As a woman gets older, she may also have been exposed to several factors that can influence her reproductive system such as poor diet, infections or stress. As such, assisted reproductive techniques are becoming highly sought after by older women.
Abnormal menstrual cycle
This is a common sign of infertility to look out for. There are a number of reasons why women may be having abnormal periods and this does not always mean infertility, but the sooner a problem is addressed, the better. Symptoms may include irregular or absent periods, heavy and/or painful periods, any pelvic pain or discomfort in between menstrual cycles, etc.
These are also common signs of infertility. There are numerous symptoms that you may not relate to fertility. These may include premenstrual syndrome, weight gain, anxiety and depression/mood swings, headaches, facial hair growth, hair loss, fatigue, low sex drive, breast tenderness/lumpy tissue, nipple discharge, hot flushes, night sweats/insomnia, vaginal dryness, acne, oily skin or redness, puffiness and bloating, gallbladder problems like indigestion, pain under the ribs on the right hand side, light coloured stools, etc.
These may be causative factors of infertility and need to be diagnosed as soon as possible. There are many reasons for infections, ranging from being sexually-transmitted, a low immune system or complications post-surgery.
Again, like the male fertility issue, solution to female fertility challenge is on hand. During clinical evaluations of M2-Tone, a herbo-mineral supplement indicated in the treatment of female fertility challenge, it was discovered that it could help women in many ways, beginning with providing solutions to all sorts of menstrual problems.
According to Dr. Preeti Dubey, an Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, M2-Tone is a comprehensive herbal supplement for menstrual disorders, and it is the most trusted and clinically endorsed formulation for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding and infertility.
He says, “M2-Tone has a potent pro-estrogenic agent which corrects estrogenic insufficiency and improves ovarian functions. The supplement maintains nutritional balance and improves endometrial health; it restores emotional balance by relieving anxiety and tension with its mild tranquilising agents.”
Another physician, Dr. Prasan Bhandari, a Medical Advisor with Charak Pharma Ltd., says “When M2-Tone is taken in conjunction with other detoxifying processes or regular exercises, it may just require about two to three dosages to see good favourable results.
“Many women who have successfully undergone M2-Tone treatment report that their menstrual cycles returned with 45-60-day cycle and step-by-step, they got adjusted to 28-30-day cycle, which is absolutely normal, acceptable and desirable.”
Both Addyzoa and M2-Tone are well tolerated, with little or no side effects recorded during clinical trials. And, like any other drug, doctors warn that you should consult your physician before you embark on any course of treatment.
Addyzoa and M2-Tone are exclusively distributed in Nigeria by Fidson Healthcare Plc.