Myth: Infertility is purely a women’s problem
Fact: Infertility can affect men and women alike. 20-30% of infertility cases are explained by physiological causes in men. Infertility can affect men of all ages; however, in their mid-to-late 40s, men experience changes in their sperm that can cause issues with fertility and chromosomal/developmental problems with offspring.
Myth: Healthy young adults don’t have to worry about infertility
Fact: The current prevalence of infertility lasting for at least 12 months is estimated to affect between 8 to 12% worldwide of women aged 20 to 44, which indicates that infertility can affect one at any age.
Myth: Deciding to have a baby only when you are much older won’t affect your fertility
Fact: A woman’s age is one of the most important factors affecting whether she is able to conceive and give birth to a healthy child.
This is due to several changes that are a natural part of ageing:
• The number and quality of eggs (ovarian reserve) decreases naturally and progressively from the time a woman is born until the time she reaches menopause. This decline is gradual until her early 30s but accelerates quickly after her mid-30s.
• It is not only more difficult to get pregnant, but miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities in the child (such as Down syndrome) are more common in older mothers.
• Fibroids, endometriosis, and tubal disease are more common and can affect fertility.
• Women who become pregnant at an older age have a higher risk of complications during the pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia (high blood pressure).
• If the woman is older than 35, she and her partner should seek evaluation if they have not been able to conceive after six months.
Myth: Only women older than 35 should get a fertility evaluation.
Fact: A woman younger than 35 should ask for a fertility evaluation if she and her partner have not been able to conceive after one year of trying (unprotected intercourse).
Myth: Only age causes a decline in fertility
Fact: If you have any of the following risk factors and you’re wanting to conceive but have not been successful, you should consider seeking fertility advice early:
Family history (mother or sister) of early menopause (before age 51)
• History of cigarette smoking in either partner
• Previous ovarian surgery
• Exposure to chemotherapy or radiation to treat cancer in either partner
• Shortening in the time between periods
• Skipped or missed periods
• History of injury to the testicles
• Exposure to toxic chemicals (certain pesticides or solvents)
• If a couple has an obvious medical problem affecting their ability to conceive, such as absence of periods (amenorrhoea) or irregular periods, sexual dysfunction, a history of pelvic disease, or prior surgery, they should begin the infertility evaluation immediately.
Myth: It’s possible to slow down reproductive ageing
Fact: It’s not possible. However, eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, avoiding smoking, and adopting a lifestyle that reduces stress can improve your overall health. Studies suggest that smoking, diet, and stress may have an impact on the quality of eggs/sperm and may accelerate menopause.
Changes in lifestyle and exposure can show in the quality of sperm within a few months.
• Unlike men, a woman is born with all her eggs, so there are no methods/treatments to grow more or new eggs or preserve the quality of those eggs that remain.
• That is why it’s important to talk about family planning with a healthcare provider even if you are not thinking about getting pregnant right away. This might decrease the chance of having difficulties later.
Myth: Infertility is rare
Fact: Infertility is more prevalent than you might think.
• Infertility has been recognised as a public health issue worldwide by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
• One in six couples worldwide experience some form of infertility problem at least once during their reproductive lifetime.
• The current prevalence of infertility lasting for at least 12 months is estimated to affect between 8–12 % worldwide of women aged 20–44.
Myth: In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the only fertility option available
Fact: IVF currently accounts for more than 99 % of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures. In IVF, eggs are surgically removed from the ovary and mixed with sperm outside the body in a Petri dish. After about 40 hours, the eggs are examined to see if they have become fertilised by the sperm and are dividing into cells. These fertilised eggs (embryos) are then placed in the woman’s uterus, thus bypassing the fallopian tubes.
However, other options are available:
Men and women who want to delay having a child until their late 30s or early 40s may consider methods to preserve their fertility. One way is to freeze sperm, eggs, or embryos.
• In men, sperm collection is usually a quick, non-invasive, simple process and cryopreservation of sperm is well established.
• A woman must undergo egg retrieval like in IVF. Embryo freezing is well established and generally more successful than freezing unfertilised eggs, but it requires that the woman have a male partner or use donor sperm.
• The only other option for men and women who are already infertile is to use sperm, eggs, or embryos donated by another man, woman, or couple. Using donated gametes or embryos makes the chance of successful pregnancy the same as for the person who donated the gametes.
It’s important to speak to your healthcare provider or a fertility specialist early to plan for your future reproductive health.
Visit: www.merckfertilityjourney.co.za for further detailed information or to find a fertility clinic near to you.
#WorldInfertilityMonth #DontDelay #Merck
