What Causes Infertility?
Infertility prevents conception from occurring between sperm and egg. Learn more about what causes infertility and how it can be treated.
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Transcript: What Causes Infertility?
How Fertilization Occurs
The testicles of adult men produce about half a billion sperm each day. By contrast, women generally release only one egg per month. In order for fertilization and conception to occur, one of a man's many sperm must join the single egg released in a woman's oviduct or fallopian tube.Causes of Infertility
There are many causes of infertility, and often times the reason for a couple's inability to conceive is never determined.Infertility in Men
Some known causes of infertility in men include low sperm count or non-functioning sperm.Infertility in Women
Infertility in women can be caused by many factors; some known causes can include failure to ovulate or blocked fallopian tubes. Severe endometriosis, a disorder where pieces of the uterine lining stray and adhere to reproductive organs, is also a common cause of infertility in women.Diagnosing and Treating Infertility
Diagnosis and management by a physician may be successful in treating some couples with infertility. Some cases of infertility can be treated with medications or surgery. A physician can also discuss alternatives to natural conception, such as donor sperm, donor egg and adoption.Copyrighted animations provided by Blausen Medical