Infertility
Infertility is defined as the inability of the married couple to achieve a pregnancy over the course of one year when intercourse is occurring randomly. A newer definition of infertility also exists in a situation where the woman is NaProTRACKING her menstrual cycles (a technique learned through the use of the CREIGHTON MODEL Fertility Care System). With NaProTRACKING, a couple can use fertility focused intercourse. In such a situation, if pregnancy does not occur over the course of six menstrual cycles then it can be assured that a fertility problem exists.
There is some question as to whether infertility is on the increase or not. Indeed, there is evidence to suggest that the lifestyle that exists in much of the western world, which is on the one hand very hectic and stressful and, on the other hand, encourages promiscuity, has actually led to an increase in the number of infertile couples. This rate may be close to 20 percent. At the same time, there are some who believe that infertility rates have not changed over the last 20 to 30 years.
In any regard, infertility is an extremely difficult problem because it not only involves physical disease entities or problems but it also involves psychological and emotional effects. Most infertility problems are related to some type of functional or anatomic disease process and most infertility problems create emotional feelings of sadness, regret, inadequacy, frustration, discouragement, etc.
Most problems related to infertility have an underlying organic and/or hormonal/functional cause. The latter usually results in some type of abnormality in ovulation while the former creates other difficulties including obstruction of the fallopian tube, biochemical disturbances that disrupt fertility, etc.
In approaching a problem of infertility, it is best to seek assistance from physicians who are disease based in their approach to the evaluation and treatment of infertility and also provide a comprehensive plan for the evaluation and treatment of this condition. With this approach, as opposed to the more “modern” reproductive technologies such as vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), etc. A higher pregnancy rate can be achieved while, at the same time, having the underlying disease process recognized and treated.
Most problems related to infertility have an underlying organic and/or hormonal/functional cause. The latter usually results in some type of abnormality in ovulation while the former creates other difficulties including obstruction of the fallopian tube, biochemical disturbances that disrupt fertility, etc.
Conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic adhesions (scar tissue), previous infections with Chlamydia or gonorrhoea, polycystic ovarian disease, etc are all organic, diseased causes of infertility. In addition, many of these women have associated hormonal dysfunctions which have ultimately create abnormal ovulatory patterns which are either incompatible with pregnancy or prone to producing abnormal pregnancies such as miscarriages, tubal pregnancies, etc.
The most important approach to any infertility problem is to have an adequate evaluation. NaProTRACKING the menstrual cycles is the basic step for accomplishing this. This is a system of evaluating different biological markers of menstruation, fertility and infertility and then recording them appropriately so that a daily record can be obtained. In order to NaProTRACK the menstrual cycle one has to go to classes where this is taught and are associated with CREIGHTON MODEL Fertility Care System. NaProTRACKING becomes the foundation upon which other testing can be accomplished including the cooperative and reproducible hormonal evaluation of the menstrual and ovulation cycles.
In order to have an accurate diagnosis, a woman should have a pelvic ultrasound examination or a series of ultrasound examinations to determine ovulatory defects that might occur. The husbands should also have a seminal fluid analysis to assess their competency at achieving pregnancy. If abnormalities exist then specific treatments can be implemented.
Finally a diagnostic laparoscopy and hysteroscopy should be conducted and if necessary, a selective hysterosalpingogram. The first of these tests allows for the visualization of the internal reproductive organs of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, etc. Such diseases as endometriosus, pelvic adhesions, polycystic ovaries, obstructions of the fallopian tubes, etc. Can be visualized and diagnosed. The latter of those examinations allows for a specific testing of the integrity of each fallopian tube separately to make sure that there are not even subtle obstructions present.
With a disease based approach to infertility and comprehensive planning for its treatment, there is a considerable amount of hope that is available to the woman and her husband seeking help with an infertility problem.