When things don't go so swimmingly
 

 

There are many things that can go wrong, from the man not being able to produce enough viable sperm in the first place, to wrong location of implantation.
 

 Factors which can affect fertility:

  • Low sperm count in men can be a major cause of couples having problems conceiving. 

     
  • Being over or underweight can also affect how fertile either partner is. Extreme exercise regimes may also contribute to fertility issues. 

     
  • Hormone imbalance can have major influences on fertility as it affects ovulation and sperm production. 

     
  • Smoking and drinking alcohol can have an adverse affect on fertility and may decrease the chance of conception and increase the risk of premature birth. 

     
  • Environmental and occupational causes may also decrease fertility; examples are high mental stress, being exposed to high temperatures (especially the male), exposure to x-rays and radiation, or certain chemicals. These can all have major influences on fertility. 

     
  • Ectopic Pregnancy can be another problem: This is where the fertilised egg remains, divides and thus grows in the fallopian tube rather than migrating to the uterus. This is incredibly painful for the woman which is often the first symptom, as the fallopian tubes do not have the "stretchiness" of the uterus.  This type of pregnancy must be terminated as the fallopian tubes would rupture and the woman would die. 

     
  • Endometriosis causes between 5 - 30% of female infertility. In this condition the lining of the uterus envelops the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and bowel making fertilisation very difficult. Other inhibiting factors from this condition can be; scar tissue in the fallopian tubes stopping the egg from travelling to the uterus; cysts growing within the ovary, preventing egg release and poor egg implantation may occur because the egg will not adhere to the wall of the uterus. 

     
  • Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia can also reduce the chance of successful fertilisation. These diseases can lead to scar tissue and in extreme cases sterility.

 

Picture drawn in Paint.