10 Tips on Avoiding Infertility

Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term.

There are many biological causes of infertility, including some that medical intervention can treat. However, following simple tips can help you prevent infertility.

• Women must avoid pre-marital sex because it may lead to unwanted pregnancies and abortions which may become complicated by infections and damage to the fallopian tubes.

• Women must avoid having multiple sexual partners because this increases their risk of developing pelvic infections and damaged fallopian tubes.

• Poorly treated sexually transmitted infections in both men and women could cause infertility.

• Women who have not had children should avoid using the intrauterine device (IUD).

• Women with fibroids or ovarian cysts should seek information from their gynaecologists and make informed decisions about treating options before consenting to operations. Studies have shown that up to 30% of women develop scar tissue following inappropriately performed operations which can cause damage to their fallopian tubes.

• It is vital that all women be aware of the decline in female fertility which drops with increasing age and sharply declines after the age of 35 years. This fact should be considered as women make plans for starting their families.

• Puerperal sepsis, an infection of the genital tract which occurs often after poorly managed childbirth, can lead to damage of the fallopian tubes. This infection can be prevented by ensuring that childbirth takes place in a safe environment and is managed by trained personnel.

• Male infants must be examined thoroughly at birth to determine the presence and location of their testes so that undescended testes may be detected early and corrected accordingly.

• Children should be given MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccines according to the schedule of childhood immunisations to prevent the development of mumps infection, which is associated with the later development of male infertility.

• Men and women must remain healthy by eating  balanced diets;  avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking and substance abuse, exercising regularly and minimizing the effects of stress in their lives.