For this essay I chose to research on
Infertility, according to the book, infertility is the inability to achieve
pregnancy after at least 1 years of regular sexual relations without birth
control or the ability to carry a pregnancy to a live birth. For this topic, I
thought it would be interesting to research more about it online due to so many
of close friends that have experienced infertility. Initially I thought it was
all the same, but there are different types of infertility. Primary infertility
is defined as a woman has never conceived even though she wants to and has had
regular sexual relations in the past 12 months, while Secondary Infertility is
when the woman has previously conceived but is currently unable to do so even
though and has had sexual relations in the past 12 months.
While researching more about what
causes infertility as well as who is affected by it; I came across a few
National Surveys: 1 in 8 couples (or 12% married women) have trouble getting
pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. While 7.4 million women, or 11.9% of women
have never received any infertility services in their lifetime. Also,
approximately 10 to 15% of couples in the United States are infertile.
(Department of Health and Human Services, USA)
What I have also found out is that many
cases of infertility are treatable. It does depend on what the diagnosis is, as
it can vary case by case. In certain couples it could only be one of them that
has this issue, or it could be a combination of factors such a low sperm count,
ovulation disorder, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, PCOS (Polycystic ovary
syndrome), and combination infertility. Another interesting fact is that of all
the couples diagnosed with infertility, 15% are diagnosed with unexplained
infertility. (Natural Fertility Info, 2017)
Even though infertility is a sensitive
topic to talk about there are a lot of options out there for couples that after
being diagnosed still can’t conceive. For example, IVF or In Vitro
Fertilization treatments, artificial insemination, donor sperm, donor eggs,
surrogacy, and reproductive Surgery. Unfortunately, the treatments above can
cost a lot for the couple wanting to conceive. I found that there are
non-profit organizations that will rally for this good cause and donate the
money to a deserving couple in the beginning process of treatments.
In conclusion,
being diagnosed with infertility can be devastating for someone; but I’m happy
to have found a lot of research online on the subject. There is no better time
than now to educate others about this and how to get help.
Knox,
D., & Milstein, S. (2017). Human
Sexuality: Making Informed Decisions (5th ed.) [with Salt Lake
Community College supplement]. Redding, CA: BVT Publishing.
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