Infertility clinics use various terms to define the kind of issues being faced by a couple. Getting acquainted with such terminology can help immensely if you are facing infertility or if you are contemplating visiting a fertility clinic. One of the commonly-used but confusing terms in this regard is Combined Infertility.
Understanding Combined Infertility
Before understanding Combined Infertility, it is better to understand the medical interpretation of infertility. A couple is regarded infertile if it has been unable to conceive even after six months of unprotected intercourse. However, this period is extended to 12 months if the female is more than 35 years of age or if there are previously-diagnosed health issues making it difficult to establish pregnancy.
Combined infertility is established when the both the man and woman are infertile in some way. Combined infertility is not distinguished on the basis of reasons precipitating the infertility, but the presence of infertility-linked problems with both the man and woman. Note that combined infertility doesn't indicate which partner has a more serious fertility problem. Such couples need artificial assistance in the form of clinical intervention to conceive.
Combined infertility often gives rise to unexplained infertility. This happens when the presence of fertility-linked problems in both the partners gives rise to certain issues that cannot be decoded clearly with the current clinical applications. Some of the most common male/female infertility causes that are often present together in various permutations to induce infertility have been listed below.
Common Female Infertility Factors
- Diabetes
- Ovarian factors
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
- Uterine/cervical/vaginal factors, such as adhesions, infections or tumors
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic adhesions
- Thyroid problems
- Hypothalamic issues
- Genetic conditions
- Psychological factors
Common Male Infertility Factors
- Endocrine problems
- Health problems induced by drug/alcohol abuse
- Psychological factors
- Testicular trauma
- Varicocele
- Vas deferens obstruction
- Unresolved testicular infections
- Retrograde ejaculation
- Genetic conditions
