Infertility

If one is asked to name the single elemental force that governs life in the earth, the answer would be – urge to procreate, in other words – urge of reproduction or propagation of species. The fire in every man and woman on earth is this sexual drive that is almost a command of nature. That is why the sexual act has been the most pleasant sensory feeling of the human race.

Infertility is the inability in a woman to conceive or a man to induce conception. It means the inability of a couple to achieve a pregnancy after repeated intercourse without contraception for a year. The problem could be either with the man or the woman or both.

Infertility must be distinguished from impotence among males and frigidity in females. Frigidity and impotence both indicate a failure to perform the sexual act or to perform it imperfectly.

Normal conception takes place when the sperm of the male, inserted into the vagina during coitus travel through the uterus and unites with the ovum secreted by the ovaries. If this union fails to occur, the woman does not conceive.

Causes – Men

• According to Ayurveda the general causes are – defective sperms, congestion of the ducts that carry sperm, trauma sustained by the genital organs, functional disorders or congenital defects of the reproductive organs, general diseases and improper development of reproductive organs.

• Sterility among men could be caused by problems with sperm. Sperms may be abnormal, too few in number (oligospermia) or absent (azoospermia) or lack the motility to reach the ovum and form the zygote.

• Heat can greatly reduce sperm production and make sperms move slowly. (Normally the temperature of the testes is two degrees less than the body temperature – 96.4 F ). Exposure to excessive heat, prolonged fever, un descended testes and varicose veins in the testes may increase temperature of testes.

• Hormonal disorders like hypothyroidism, hypo gonadism, disorders of the adrenalin gland or pituitary gland can impair production of sperm. Genetic disorders like abnormality of the sex chromosomes can interfere with sperm production.

• The other causes for reduced sperm output are mumps (mumps orchids) that affect the testes, injury to the testes, exposure to industrial or environmental toxins and drugs. Use of anabolic steroids may affect hormone levels and thus also interfere with sperm production.

• Serious disorders of the testes, blocked “Vasa deferentia” missing seminal vesicles and blockage of both ejaculatory ducts may result in total absence of sperm.

• Occasionally, semen moves in the wrong direction. This disorder is called retrograded ejaculation and is more common among men who have diabetes or who have pelvis surgery. Infertility then results.

Diagnosis

Semen analysis is the primary step in treating infertility in men. Parameters measured in semen analysis are: sperm count, motility, morphology, volume, fructose and pH.

Sperm count should show over 20 million sperm per ml. As for motility, 60% of observed sperm or at least 8 million per ml should show good forward movement. The WHO criteria are that normal motility is when at least 50% of the observed sperms move forward normally.

Regarding morphology, a sample is normal if 30% of the observed sperm have normal morphology. Volume of the sample should be between 1.0 ml and 6.5 ml. WHO criteria specifies that any volume greater than 2.0 ml is normal.

Fructose level, as per WHO’s specification, should be 13 mol per sample. Absence of fructose may indicate problem with the seminal vesicles.

Causes – Women

The common cause of infertility in women is the problem with ovulation – that is, the ovaries do not release an egg each month. For instance the ovaries may not produce progesterone. This female hormone causes the lining of Uterus to thicken in preparation for a potential fetus. Ovulation may not occur if the brain does not release or secrete gonadotropin – releasing hormone GRH that stimulates pituitary gland to produce the hormones that trigger ovulation.

Ovulation problems may also be due to:-

• Congenital deformities such as the mouth of the Uterus being clogged or displacement of Uterus, inflammation of the mouth of the womb, anemia, blood poisoning etc.

• Thyroid or adrenal gland disorders, diabetes, obesity or psychological stress.

• Irregular, painful, scanty menstruation.

• If the fallopian tubes are blocked, the egg can not reach Uterus or the sperm can not reach the egg.

• Structural disorders like birth defects of the Uterus, fallopian tubes, fibroids in the Uterus, adhesion in the Uterus also block the fallopian tubes.

• Mucus in the cervix is supposed to thin down & become clear and elastic so that the sperm can easily move through mucus is to the Uterus and to the fallopian tubes where fertilization takes place. It the mucus does not change at ovulation (because of infection), pregnancy does not occur. If the mucus contains antibodies that kill sperm before they can reach eggs, then also pregnancy does not happen.

The amazing fact about ovulation is that Baby girls are born with 1

to 2 million eggs in the ovaries and no more eggs develop after birth.

Diagnosis

A simple test to determine whether ovulation is occurring is to take the woman’s temperature at rest (basal body temperature) each day. An increase of more than 0.9 degree F (0.5 degree C) indicates that ovulation has occurred. However basal body temperature is not 100% reliable. More advanced techniques like Ultra sonography or ovulation predictor kits are now available. The level of progesterone in blood and saliva are also tested. If necessary endometrial biopsy also done.

Ayurvedic conception of infertility

Ayurveda considers that primarily physical disorders are to be corrected before the treatment for conception is started. And after this, special care is given to manage the healthy growth of fetus.

The “shodana chikitsa” in Ayurveda consists of

1. Snehapanam – special herbal ghee or oil is given early morning, starting with low dosage and increasing the dosage slowly.

2. Sweedanam – Medicated steam bath is given

3. Virechana – Medicated purgation to void the body of all toxins

4. Kashaya vasthi – special medicated enema to strengthen the nervous system.

5. Sneha vasthi – medicated oil given as enema to clear problems of genitourinary tract.

6. Ottaravasthi – specially made ghee to irrigate the vaginal tract. It clears problems of Uterus.

After proper rest, vajeekarna is done to improve the quality,

Quantity, count and mobility of semen and also to improve the stamina of the patient. This is the real aphrodisiac treatment.

Wonderful and miraculous herbs are available in Ayurveda to treat female infertility. All you need is consulting an experienced Ayurvedic physician.

Yoga is very important in cases of infertility. It brings physical as well as mental well being. One must consult a yoga therapist

Diet regimen:

Onion juice with honey / ghee, Amla powder, milk, butter and a high protein food (fish, white meat, and eggs) are recommended.