Prevention

Safe sex behavior will help prevent possible infertility. As one the main causes of infertility is represented by STD, protection in sexual relations could prevent it. The most common diseases to affect fertility are chlamydia and gonorrhea. At the beginning, STDs show no symptoms, until salpingitis or PID develops. Those inflammatory processes produce scars on the fallopian tubes and affect fertility or increase the risk for ectopic pregnancy

Mumps cause infertility or sterilization so an immunization to this disease can help preventing those effects.

IUD (intrauterine device), which is not recommended to women that haven't had children previously, may present some risks for future infertility. When a woman decides to use IUD, she must put in a balance the risks it involves, though they are low, with the benefit these instruments provide. Also it is recommended to consult with the partner and with the doctor.

Endometriosis discovered and treated in time may lower the risk of infertility.

Factors of risk

Men and women share most of the factors of risk for infertility:

• - Age is the most important factor of decision in a woman's fertility. After the age of 32, women start producing less eggs and at a lower quality. Thus, eggs can have chromosomal abnormalities. As they grow older, women may develop diseases and conditions that can interfere with fertility and the possibility of miscarriage also grows. In men, after the age of 35, fertility may start declining.
• - Women who smoke may have smaller chances to getting pregnant and lower the possibility of being helped by treatments. In addition, they present a higher risk of miscarriage.
• - Alcohol consumption can have negative effects during conception or pregnancy.
• - Extremes in body mass, wither too high, or too low, may affect ovulation and have effects on fertility.
• - Overweight, which is commonly seen among American women, may affect fertility
• - Underweight, common among dancers, marathon runners, women with restricted diets, vegetarians or women suffering from eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia can affect menstrual cycles and fertility.

• Infertility Overview
• Male Infertility
• Women Infertility
• Infertility Causes
• Infertility Symptoms
• Infertility Prevention
• Infertility Treatment
• Dealing with Infertility
• Infertility Articles