Sterility and infertility. Differences and treatment
Sterility and infertility are two different concepts. It is not the same to be sterile than infertile. Sterility occurs when a couple is not able to achieve a pregnancy. However, in the case of infertility, the couple can conceive and the pregnancy takes place, however, the pregnancy never gets to t
Sterility and infertility are two different concepts. It is not the same to be sterile than infertile. Sterility occurs when a couple is not able to achieve a pregnancy. However, in the case of infertility, the couple can conceive and the pregnancy takes place, however, the pregnancy never gets to term and an abortion occurs.
Dr. Victoria Verdú, expert in assisted reproduction and fertility techniques, explains that 'sometimes both concepts are mixed, so in general, we talk about the difficulty of a couple to conceive.'
Causes and diagnosis of sterility
An accurate and adequate diagnosis can solve sterility problems. According to Dr. Verdú, there are several techniques that are used for this. Hace 'A few years ago, he was diagnosed with an ultrasound, a hormonal assessment and checking the quality of the semen,' explains Verdú. However, in recent years, the techniques have advanced a lot and
much more can be done to make faster and more accurate diagnoses using the genetic data of the parents or with the detection of parameters influenced by the lifestyle each parent. This helps the treatment to be more delimited and short and get the pregnancy as soon as possible, since it is known much earlier what is happening to the couple. Causes and diagnosis of infertility
Among the most frequent causes of infertility in women is
the tendency to delay more and more gestation , along with medical problems such as endometriosis, fallopian tube injuries or uterine anomalies.Regarding male infertility, it is usually due to
alterations in semen , obstruction of the ducts, problems in the prostate or factors such as stress, poor diet, smoking or alcohol, which decrease the quantity and quality of sperm .Treatment for sterility and infertility
Assisted reproduction techniques can help sterile or infertile couples achieve the desired pregnancy. The diagnosis will determine the treatment to follow. 'The most common treatments carried out in assisted reproduction units range from simpler techniques, such as artificial insemination, to more advanced techniques such as In Vitro Fertilization'. These are some of the most used in the consultations:
- Artificial insemination
: semen is introduced into the female reproductive system- In Vitro Fertilization
: ovules are extracted from the ovaries and fertilized outside the womb, then transferred to the same- Sperm microejection
: a good quality oocyte and a sperm that has good mobility are selected and microinjected into that oocyte.
