Can I get a warm welcome back!? Let’s be honest traveling with little ones is no easy feat. But totally worth it! (Segway into our next big topic)

Did you know that approximately 1 in 6 people worldwide experience infertility? These rates continue to increase, having tripled in the past 10 years!³ Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after having regular, unprotected sex for at least 12 months.⁴ Why is infertility so prevalent and why are rates increasing? And most importantly what can we do to mitigate yet another global health issue?

Causes/Risk Factors

There is a large misconception that infertility is a “women’s issue”. And let me tell you that is 100% FALSE! Did you know that 1/3 of infertility cases are due to the male? While 1/3 are due to the female. And the remaining 1/3 of cases are without clear cause.¹

This branches into miscarriage. A devastating experience where a woman may feel inadequate and/or at fault. BUT in reality early pregnancy loss is often linked to poor sperm quality. A woman’s body recognizes and rejects the non-viable embryo! That’s impressive if you ask me.

Now we know men are as likely to experience infertility as women. Let’s jump into the causes and risk factors.

• Ovulation problems (women)
• Anatomic issue(s)
• Hormonal imbalances
• Low sperm count (men)
• Poor sperm quality (men)
• Obesity
• Malnutrition
• Advanced age
• Exposure to chemicals (i.e. alcohol)
• Radiation
• Tobacco use
• Disease states (i.e. endometriosis, PCOS, autoimmune disease)
• Some sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• Stress

Great News: you may have noticed that many of the above are preventable or treatable! Let’s talk prevention, first.

Prevention

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a well balanced diet
• Reduce/eliminate processed foods
• Reduce exposures to pesticides (eat organic, always wash produce, find lawn care alternatives)
• Exercise regularly
• Cut out alcohol
• Smoking cessation
• Prevent STIs by using protection
• Treat STIs promptly
• Routine physical exams with appropriate laboratory testing

Treatment

Fortunately, there are effective infertility treatment options out there. The first step is proper diagnosis. Then appropriate treatment follows. Treatment may include any of the following:

• Lifestyle modification(s)
• Medical treatment of underlying conditions (STIs, PCOS, etc)
• Surgical treatment of underlying conditions
• Assisted conception (i.e. IUI and IVF)

In Conclusion

Infertility affects about 1 in 6 people globally and it’s prevalence is increasing. Infertility is not a women’s issue, as men are just as likely to experience it. There are numerous causes linked to infertility, many of which are modifiable. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a well-balanced diet, and eliminating toxins are essential to maintain a healthy body and therefore optimal reproductive tract. That being said, there are also many causes that are not preventable but may be treatable. If you are experiencing infertility, know that you are not alone and there are options.

As always, please reach out with questions, comments, or for further discussion.

Lindsey, PharmD, BCPS

References

¹NIH. (2021, November 18). How common is male infertility, and what are its causes?. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menshealth/conditioninfo/infertility

²NHS. (2023, August 9). Infertility. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/infertility/

³WHO. (2023, April 4). 1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility: Who. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/04-04-2023-1-in-6-people-globally-affected-by-infertility

⁴WHO. (2024, May 22). Infertility. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility