Female Factors

• Age: Fertility peaks in the late 20s–early 30s, declines more sharply after age 35, and approaches 50–80% infertility by age 45 

• Hormonal & structural issues: Ovulation disorders (e.g., PCOS), blocked fallopian tubes (from infections or surgery), uterine issues (fibroids, polyps), and conditions like endometriosis .

• Lifestyle: Obesity, malnutrition, smoking, excessive caffeine or alcohol, and chronic stress affect egg quality and ovulation 

Male Factors

• Sperm quality: Low count, poor motility or morphology—often caused by varicocele, Illness, heat exposure, smoking, or medications 

• Obstructions or anatomical issues: Blockages in sperm delivery system, prior or current infections 

• Hormonal imbalances: Low testosterone or pituitary disorders reduce sperm production 

Environmental & Lifestyle

• Toxins, pesticides, and pollutants damage egg/sperm cells 

• Tight clothing, heat (sauna/laptops), and obesity negatively impact sperm 

• Adopting a Mediterranean-style diet, exercise, weight management, and stress control can improve fertility 

Diagnosing Fertility Concerns

• Female: Hormone panels, pelvic exams, ultrasounds, hysteroscopy, tubal evaluation .

• Male: Semen analysis tests count, motility, shape; hormonal testing; possibly imaging.

• Couples: Evaluate together since infertility often involves both partners.

Lifestyle & Medications

• For ovulation issues: Clomiphene, letrozole, gonadotropins  

• For men: Hormone therapy, varicocele surgery, sperm retrieval  

2. Surgical Interventions

• Females: Remove fibroids, correct blocked tubes, treat endometriosis  

• Males: Reverse vasectomy, fix obstructions, treat varicocele .

3. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)

• IUI: Sperm injected directly into uterus.

• IVF: Eggs retrieved and fertilized in lab, embryos transferred  

• ICSI: Single sperm injected into egg—used when sperm quality is poor  

• Advanced options: Egg/sperm donation, surrogacy, embryo freezing, genetic testing .

• Lab-grown sperm and eggs (IVG) from adult cells, possibly 5–10 years from clinical use 

• AI-assisted sperm recovery, e.g., STAR, found sperm in azoospermia cases

• Most infertility (85–90%) is treatable with lifestyle changes, medication, surgery, or ART 

• IVF success depends heavily on female age, embryo quality—live birth rates around 50% for women under 35 and drop with age