What You Need to Know About Infertility

Fertility treatment is provided to men and women experiencing fertility issues such as ejaculation dysfunction, endometriosis, poor sperm morphology (abnormally shaped sperm), primary ovarian insufficiency, pelvic inflammatory disease, and low sperm counts, amongst others.  

 Key Takeaways

1. Common fertility treatment options are; IVF, IUI, ICSI, assisted laser hatching, among others.
2. Endometriosis and poor egg quality are common causes of infertility in women and men, respectively.
3. Fertility clinics in Kenya offer exceptional treatment options.

What is Infertility?

Infertility is the inability of a man or female to conceive because of a problem with either partner's reproductive system.

Did you know there are two types of infertility? Primary infertility is when an individual is completely unable to conceive, while secondary infertility refers to an individual who has previously been able to conceive but is no longer able to.

Common Causes of Infertility

Chronic diseases, autoimmune disorders, unhealthy lifestyle, diseases and infection of the reproductive system, obesity, and age are factors that can affect fertility.

Common Symptoms of Infertility

The symptoms include having:

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Unusually light or heavy bleeding
• abnormal menstrual bleeding
• Pelvic pain
• Sexual dysfunction

How Infertility Occurs in Males – causes

Male infertility results from:

• Poor quality sperm
• Damaged testicles due to infection
• Sterilisation (Vasectomy)
• Ejaculation disorders
• Low level of testosterone

How Infertility Occurs in Females

The common causes of infertility in females include:

• Fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Medicines used for chemotherapy can lead to ovarian failure
• Cervical mucus problems
• Premature ovarian failure
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Are you in need of a fertility assessment? Talk to a patient support specialist to get you started on your fertility journey.

Risk Factors Associated with Infertility in Men

Here are some of the risk factors that affect fertility in men:

• Older age
• Smoking cigarettes
• Heavy use of alcohol
• Obesity
• Being exposed to toxins such as pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals

Risk Factors Associated with Infertility in Women

Here are some of the risk factors that affect fertility in women:

• Older age
• Smoking cigarettes
• Heavy use of alcohol
• Obesity
• Diseases and infection of the reproductive system

What is Infertility Treatment?

Treatments designed for infertile couples or individuals to assist in fertilization.

How Do I Know I am Fertile?

The following signs are good indicators of fertility:

• You can easily track your ovulation
• You’re at a healthy weight
• You are not experiencing signs of fibroids or endometriosis

Fertility Treatment Testing

The fertility tests include:

• Checking hormone levels through blood tests
• Ovulation tests
• A pelvic exam
• X-rays to view your fallopian tubes
• A transvaginal ultrasound
• Semen analysis

How is Male Infertility Treated?

The male infertility treatment includes:

• Surgery to surgically correct varicocele
• Treatment of diseases and infections of the reproductive system
• Medication and counselling can assist with the conditions such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation
• Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to obtain sperm through normal ejaculation or surgical extraction from a donor

How is Female Infertility Treated?

Infertility treatment in females depends on the cause, your age, how long you have been infertile, and your personal preferences.

The female infertility treatment includes:

• Use of fertility drugs and hormones to assist in ovulation
• Surgery to remove tissue that is causing infertility.

Fertility Treatment Options

Here are the common fertility treatment options:

• IVF Treatment - Involves the fertilization of mature eggs by sperm in a lab.
• Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI ) - Sperm is inserted into a woman's womb at the time of ovulation to achieve conception.
• Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) - The treatment involves the introduction of a single selected sperm to the centre of the egg to assist fertilization.
• Egg/sperm and Embryo Freezing and Storage - Offers couples and individuals the chance of having biological children in the future.
• Donor Egg and Sperm Facilities- used in cases with a lack of or poor-quality eggs and sperm.
• Surrogacy services-This is a legal arrangement between a woman and a couple or individual to carry and deliver a baby.
• Male Fertility Treatment (PESA, TESA) - Treats infertility for men with a prior vasectomy and detects a lack of sperm in men’s seminal fluid.
• Assisted Laser Hatching - Performed on the embryo before transferring it into the uterus, the procedure is offered to patients undergoing In Vitro Fertilization.
• Embryo Donation - Involves relinquishing unused embryos to someone with infertility.
• Testicular Biopsy - Involves obtaining sperm by opening the scrotum and is used for men with a prior vasectomy.
• Blastocyst Culture - The procedure is offered to couples or individuals who have had multiple failed IVF processes. 

Are you in need of fertility treatment? Talk to a patient support specialist to get started on your treatment.

Where Can I Get Infertility Treatment?

Wondering where to get infertility treatment? Here is a list of some fertility centres where you can experience world-class fertility care.

1.     Myra IVF Centre, Kenya 

The leading fertility centre in Kenya has fertility specialists who provide world-class and cost-effective In Vitro Fertilization procedures and other fertility treatment options

2.    American Hospital, Dubai 

The international hospital in Dubai has a fertility clinic that provides advanced and comprehensive fertility treatment to patients.

3.     The Wijnland Fertility Clinic, South Africa 

The fertility clinic in South Africa has over 10 years of providing specialized fertility treatment and solutions to individuals and couples. 

4.     The Nairobi IVF Centre

The fertility hospital in Nairobi provides exceptional treatment to couples and individuals and has delivered more than 5000 babies through fertility treatment.

5.     Bumrungrad International hospital  

The international hospital in Thailand has a Fertility Centre and an IVF Clinic that provides personalized, quality fertility care in Southeast Asia and offers high success rates in fertility treatment. 

6.     HART Fertility Clinic, South Africa

The fertility clinic in Cape Town, South Africa, prides itself on having state-of-the-art andrology and IVF laboratory to solve infertility issues in both males and females.  

7.    Fertility Point Kenya

The fertility centre is equipped with a state-of-the-art IVF laboratory to ensure quality fertility care and prides itself in providing more than 3000 successful pregnancies.

Do you have the desire to start or grow your family? We work with internationally accredited fertility centres that provide specialized fertility care.

Talk to a patient support specialist Now! Get Connected to top fertility specialists.