The criterion for diagnosing infertility is the inability for a couple or person to conceive after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without the use of contraception or birth control practices. People who do not conceive a child as quickly as they expected, may commonly experience concerns, anxiety and frustration. More often than not though, most couples will become pregnant within a year of frequent, contraceptive-free intercourse. Thus, if you have not been trying to conceive for a full year, be patient. For those who have attempted to conceive a child for more than a year, perhaps medical testing, assessment and treatments should be considered.
Although almost half of fertility cases include problems with the men involved, the public mainly attributes fertility issues to women. Data supports a more even role for men in infertility. For example, in Sweden, the man is the main factor in one-third of infertility cases, the woman is one-third the factor and a product of both male and female factors are responsible for the remaining third. Hence, if a couple decides to explore medical intervention, both partners should participate in the examination process. Comprehensively examining both partners will usually produce more desirable outcomes such as earlier understanding, acceptance and resolution of the fertility problem. In addition, when both partners act in unison, it can help prevent and succumb negative emotions that are frequently associated with infertility. Commonly, individuals with concerns of infertility may experience feelings of blame, fault and guilt. Couples that confront concerns of infertility together experience superior outcomes.
For men, testing usually begins with a semen and sperm examination or serum hormone analysis, but the initial test is not absolute. Infertility testing is as much an art as it is a science and many doctors vary in their approach to testing. The man’s and couple’s preferences and willingness to undergo such testing is taken into account. Many men and couples differ in their viewpoints on testing. For example, collection of semen in a medical setting or abruptly rushing a collected sample from home to the laboratory can make some men feel embarrassed, awkward or humiliated. Then there are other men or couples who have no opposing feelings towards any such measures. Every case must be handled with awareness and harmonize the needs and preferences of the couple.
The best initial tests to choose for infertility are also dependent upon the scientific features of each test and the case context. The sperm and semen testing, is straightforward. A collected sample of semen is assessed for quality and quantity of sperm. This test is commonly used when men have low ejaculate volume. If two sperm and semen tests are performed and considered in the normal range, the man is generally ruled out to have any fertility problems. The hormone evaluation is also uncomplicated. A blood sample is obtained and the concentrations of two hormones that stimulate testicular production of sperm and semen are measured. This test is more useful if an individual has a history of using medicines that are known to disrupt the endocrine system, like anabolic steroids. These two different types of tests can individually or in combination reveal significant insight about a man’s potential fertility but must be chosen appropriately for each person’s needs.
For many couples, infertility can be a major hindrance for their relationship. However, effective interventions are available and the first step is testing. Just remember, try to be patient until at least a year has passed since regular copulation has begun. Furthermore, if you do decide to seek infertility testing, strongly consider to delve into it as a couple.
This article was provided from Kwikmed.com. At Kwikmed.com we offer lab tests for male and female fertility . Follow us @kwikmed