After how many years of marriage should one panic, if the woman fails to conceive?

If a woman fails to conceive two years after having unprotected intercourse it is advisable to seek the help of a specialist who deals with infertility. Further, if you are keen to conceive and for one year have had unprotected intercourse twice a week and not yet conceived, you can consult your doctor.

What are the causes for not conceiving?

If either a man or a woman is severely malnourished, conception may not happen. Also if either of them is suffering from an infection like tuberculosis of the reproductive tract. If either of them is taking certain drugs for treatment, conception may be hampered. Given below are some common reasons that cause infertility. However, there may be several other reasons that investigations may reveal.

Reasons why a man will not conceive ?

A man may not conceive if he has a low sperm count. That is, when a man ejaculates, there are several million sperm in the semen, or the fluid that is ejaculated. Out of these, only one manages to pierce or impregnate the ovum or ‘seed’ in the mother’s body. However, due to pollution and modern day life styles, the sperm count can reduce and conception may not happen. For example, when men wear synthetic underwear and sit for long hours in the heat, like traveling 4 hours by bus or train in hot weather daily, they can develop varicose veins in the testes due to excessive heat, and this can destroy the sperm. On the other hand, some men may have damaged sperm.

Sometimes, a man may be impotent, that is, he may not perform sexually, and therefore, not be able to cause a pregnancy.

A man may also not be able to conceive a baby if there is a blockage of the tubes between the testes and the penis.

Source: Questions And Answers on Pregnancy by Nutan Lakhanpal Pandit

Reasons why a woman will not conceive ?

A woman’s fallopian tubes, through which the sperm travels to meet the ovum may be blocked. In fact, any interference with the fallopian tubes, such as an entopic pregnancy, adhesions after abdominal surgery or pelvic inflammatory disease, can block the tubes and prevent fertilization of the ovum by the sperm.

Further, multiple fibroids or endometriosis may do the same.

A fibroid is a benign tumor of fibrous and muscular tissue, one or more of which may develop in the muscular wall of the womb.

Fibroids often cause pain and excessive menstrual bleeding and they may become extremely large. They do not threaten life but make pregnancy unlikely. Sometimes fibroids may not be very big and not give rise to any symptoms either.

A woman may also not conceive if her hormone level is disturbed or if her body does not release an ovum. That is, if she does not ovulate.

How can one plan a healthy baby ?

When you plan to have a baby, it is important that both the man and the woman are in good health and well nourished. A nutritious diet, less stress, less alcohol and cigarettes, less lead exhaust from vehicles, less caffeine from tea, coffee and cola drinks, no indiscriminate use of drugs, are all factors that will contribute to a strong and healthy baby. Check these factors three to six months before conception, specially approximately fifteen days before the next cycle is due, because pregnancy starts at that time. A man’s diet, smoking and drinking habits, etc. can harm his sperm. A woman needs to check these factors throughout pregnancy.