Xtra
Infertility
Doesn’t
Favour
Only
Women
Delay conceiving after 35
among women and men has
led to many consulting for In
Vitro Fertilisation treatment
16
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol
and unhealthy food are also known to reduce
the number of eggs as well as its quality.
This however is irreversible and consuming
supplements is to no avail. Another reason
is attributed to other infections besides
endometriosis which may block the fallopian
tube, losing the chance to conceive.
Rare incidence of the embryo not getting
implanted in the uterus due to growth of
fibroids and adenomyosis may also dampen
the reality of pregnancy.
W
ORLDWIDE, one in six cou-
ples are faced with infertility
issues. Although there are no
data collected in Malaysia,
KL Fertility and Gynaecology Centre Sdn
Bhd Fertility specialist Dr Agilan Arjunan
described the situation as similar.
“We are not far-off based on the number
of people coming in and based on the growth
of the fertility industry where more and
more people are stepping forward for it.”
While the groundwork for infertility are
mainly divided between both genders, male
problems are attributed more to lifestyle and
has an adverse effect in the urban society.
INFERTILITY IN FEMALE
More often than not, problems concern-
ing infertility and treatment are directed
towards women.
“Age is a pivotal factor. In the past, a
woman would be in her mid or late 20’s when
she first conceives. With time, this slowly
evolved to her 30’s, and now it has shifted to
mid-30’s. Data derived from our own clinic
shows that those seeking treatment previ-
ously were 35 but as of 2017, it has surged to
37 and above.”
“As the age increases, the chances of
conceiving decreases, basically due to the
number of eggs and the quality of it.”
“At pubescence, a woman has half a
million eggs. Every month, they produce
one, and this would ovulate while the rest
nine to 10 die off. From here, the journey
of ovulation should be a smooth sailing one
until the age of 45 years or older. As her age
increases, although she may have the same
number of eggs, the quality decreases.”
“Even in a woman in her 20’s, the number
of eggs gradually reduces, and the reduction
rate gets steeper as she approaches 35 and
above.”
GOOD SPERM IS ALL IT TAKES
Dr Agilan Arjunan.
FACTORS THAT DECREASE A
WOMAN’S FERTILITY RATE
The number of eggs decreases due to various
reasons, the first factor being age, followed
by medical conditions such as endometriosis
which is frequently underdiagnosed.
Data collected from a research that was
carried out three to five years in the United
States as well as in major European countries
revealed that endometriosis were not being
diagnosed until seven to 10 years after
couples know they are infertile.
“In Malaysia, we aren’t any different. The
only conclusive way to diagnose endome-
triosis is by doing a laparoscopic surgery.
At present, one is done to remove a cyst and
while doing so, the surgeon finds out the
cause to be due to endometriosis.”
“Endometriosis damages the ovary,
especially when there is a cyst. When this
results in repeated surgery, it reduces the
number of eggs quickly.”
“Contrary to popular belief, men actually
have a fertility biological clock, which is
at 30. Once a male hits this age, his sperm
count drops. Not only the quantity but the
quality of the sperm as well.”
Again, lifestyle is an inherent part. Either
smoking or those who binge on alcohol by
abstaining for six days of the week and let
loose on the seventh, and uncontrolled diet
leading to obesity all reduces the count and
quality.
Pertaining to binge drinking, Agilan
explained that it was far worse, and recom-
mended for one to spread the drink – one
to two glasses twice to three times a week.
It is also said that processed food is yet
another factor leading to poor sperm quality.
“Stress doesn’t reduce your sperm count
but affects the libido which relates to infer-
tility. Too much of stress has some link to
poorer quality of sperm as well.”
In 2016, KL Fertility and Gynaecology Centre
Sdn Bhd bec