Involuntary childlessness

Childlessness, infertility

Involuntary childlessness is quite common and can put a heavy burden on the affected women and men. Not getting pregnant at the first attempt is often no cause for concern. However, if pregnancy does not occur over a longer period of time, childless couples often put themselves under increasing pressure. They fall into a vicious circle, since already established medical problems are being complicated by psychological issues.

It is thus of great importance to investigate the cause for childlessness early, and to take action. Anatomical complications in women (adhesions involving the ovaries or the womb) or in men (blockage of spermatic duct) can be the cause. In these cases, operative measures may put things right. Another reason for childlessness could be a hormonal imbalance, requiring an examination by a specialist.

Hormonal causes for childlessness are not gender-specific, i.e. it affects men and women with almost equal frequency.

Hormonal causes of male infertility

The most common male infertility factors include azoospermia (no sperm cells are produced) and oligospermia (few sperm cells are produced). This could be due to a malfunctioning hormonal feedback loop. FSH and LH hormone secretion in the hypophysis, responsible for the production and maturation of the sperms, may possibly be disturbed. A testosterone deficiency can also be the reason, if this results in a loss of libido and erectile dysfunction.

Hormonal causes of female infertility

Irregular or abnormal menstruation is often an indication of female infertility due to an underlying hormonal imbalance. There can be various reasons for this.

As in the case of a disturbed FSH/LH hormone secretion in men, this problem may also occur in women. Due to a dysfunction of the pituitary gland, the ovarian follicles are not stimulated enough to release a mature egg from the ovary. This impairs estrogen production and ovulation does not occur.

Quite frequently, a so-called corpus luteal insufficiency occurs. Ovulation does take place, but due to insufficient luteal (luteal phase deficiency), the implantation of the fertilised egg into the endometrium is made more difficult, often resulting in a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage).

Menstrual cycle disorders can also be due to an excess of male hormones (androgens), thus preventing women from getting pregnant. These hormones are mostly secreted by the ovaries and the adrenal cortex.

Treatment therapies

In most cases attempts are made to normalise the hormonal feedback loops by means of a hormone therapy to enable pregnancy. If the cause for a hormonal disorder is a hormone-producing tumour, this tumour must be treated or surgically removed.

At this point we would appeal to all involuntary childless couples to take the initiative early on so that their wish for a family can ultimately be fulfilled. Quite often simple treatment measures can be most effective.