There are many reasons why a couple may have difficulty in conceiving a child. Disease, drugs, heredity, lifestyle habits or even exposure to certain toxins can affect fertility. Reasons for diminished reproductive capacity include:

• Endometriosis - This condition affects a woman's pelvic cavity, where tissue fragments from the innermost lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grow and function outside the uterus. They are one of the causes of painful menstruation and infertility. These displaced pieces of tissue are not shed vaginally with normal menstrual blood but instead accumulate inside the pelvis on the surface of pelvic organs. If they cause scar tissue on the ovaries or at the ends of the fallopian tubes, the scar tissue can block the tubes and prevent the egg and sperm from meeting inside the tubes for fertilization. In some instances, endometriosis can be surgically removed. Drugs can reduce discomfort related to endometriosis but are less successful at improving fertility.

• Luteal Phase Defect (or deficiency) (LPD) - A condition that occurs when the uterine lining does not develop adequately because of inadequate progesterone stimulation; or because of the inability of the uterine lining to respond to progesterone stimulation. LPD may prevent embryonic implantation or cause an early abortion.

• Reproductive tract infections - A leading cause of infertility in both men and women is sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) - particularly Chlamydia and gonorrhea. If untreated - and many infected women have no symptoms - scarring or damage of the fallopian tubes may cause infertility. In men, an STD can lead to scarring and blockage of the ejaculatory ducts and other reproductive structures, thereby causing infertility.

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - This infection of a woman's upper reproductive system involves the fallopian tubes, uterus and ovaries. The most common cause of PID is an STD, but it may also occur after complications from an abortion, dilatation and curettage (D&C) surgery, childbirth or even use an intrauterine device (IUD). A single episode of PID is associated with approximately a 15 percent risk of infertility. A second episode doubles infertility risk to about 30 percent. For three or more episodes, the risk rises to more than 50 percent.

• Female hormonal imbalances - If your female hormones fail to transmit their chemical signals at precisely the right time, ovulation may be irregular, infrequent or fail to occur. Periods will likely be erratic and unpredictable. Female hormonal imbalances can often be treated with fertility drugs.

• DES exposure. - Men and women exposed in the womb to diethylstilbestrol (DES), a drug used in the past to prevent miscarriages, may find that their fertility is compromised. DES daughters may have reproductive system abnormalities - including an unusually shaped uterus or vagina or abnormal fallopian tubes. These abnormalities can cause ovulation problems in some women, as well as an increased risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and ectopic pregnancy. The data related to sons with DES exposure are not conclusive. Some studies suggest an association with low sperm counts or abnormal sperm, undescended testicles or abnormal openings of the urethra.

• Varicocele - This condition of dilated scrotal veins affects one or both testicles. These dilated, varicose veins are quite common in fertile as well as infertile men. This condition can raise the temperature in the testicles and alter sperm production, causing low sperm counts. Because varicoceles do not always explain a couple's infertility, a urologist will consider all the possible causes of infertility to evaluate whether corrective surgery has a reasonable chance of success.

• Prostatitis - Another potential cause of male infertility, prostatitis is an infection in the prostate gland. Symptoms range from none to urgency, painful urination, and pain during or after ejaculation, with or without pain in the prostate. Prostatitis can usually be diagnosed though a physical examination and lab tests, and may be require treatment with antibiotics.

• Caffeine - Some women who consume an excessive amount of caffeine - equivalent to five cups of coffee - take longer to get pregnant. In one study, those who consume the most caffeine had a 45 percent risk of waiting more than nine months before becoming pregnant.

• Social drugs - Marijuana and cocaine may reduce sperm count and motion, and increase the percentage of defective sperm.

• Diabetes - It is thought that type 1 diabetes associated with accelerated aging may contribute to premature ovarian failure. It is also thought that early menopause is a previously unknown complication of diabetes, rather than a result of existing diabetic complications.

• Strenuous exercise and weight loss - Many women will overdo it in the gym in a mad scramble to reclaim their figures after childbirth. This can affect ovulation. Whatever the cause, couples with secondary infertility will need to consider the same options as couples dealing with primary infertility.

About the Author: Jenifer D'souza is an amateur writer to http://www.finegenerics.com providing information on all health related topics or on the latest health topics.

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