Causes and Symptoms
The Difference Between Sterility and Infertility
Sterility is the inability to conceive and carry a child. It affects both men and women, and may have many different causes, some of which remain unknown.
Infertility, on the other hand, is a couple’s inability to have children by natural means. It can be treated and is caused by a wide variety of factors that may involve the man, the woman, or both partners.
Infertility Symptoms
Symptoms of Infertility in Women:
Ovarian and ovulation disorders
Abnormalities in the fallopian tubes
Uterine abnormalities
Endometriosis
Problems with implantation
Symptoms of Infertility in Men:
Azoospermia (complete absence of sperm)
Oligospermia (low sperm count)
Asthenospermia (poor sperm mobility)
Teratospermia and Necrospermia (high proportion of malformed or dead sperm)
Difficulties with erection and ejaculation
Causes of Infertility and Sterility in Couples
To understand why a patient is infertile or sterile, the doctor will conduct a fertility test.
Hormonal Causes of Infertility in Men and Women:
Infertility can have a variety of hormonal causes, including:
- Gonadal dysfunction (of the ovaries or testicles)
- Hypothalamus and pituitary disorders (reduction of estradiol in women or of testosterone in men)