Patient's question:
Is there a direct relationship between endocrine disorders and infertility? When is the most appropriate time to check for endocrine issues? Thank you!Doctor's answer:
Related.The main factors or causes of female infertility can be summarized as follows:
① Ovulatory dysfunction, characterized by anovulation during the menstrual cycle, or ovulation with inadequate corpus luteum function.
② Immunological factors: This refers to the presence of antisperm antibodies in the female reproductive tract or serum, which can cause sperm to lose vitality or die, leading to infertility or subfertility. Additionally, some infertile women have serum antibodies against their own oocyte zona pellucida, which can hinder sperm penetration and fertilization, also causing infertility.
③ Congenital or acquired abnormalities of the reproductive organs, or diseases affecting the reproductive organs, can obstruct the patency and function of the reproductive tract from the vulva to the fallopian tubes, hindering the meeting of sperm and eggs, leading to infertility.
④ Infertility caused by sexual dysfunction, lack of sexual knowledge, systemic diseases, and unknown factors accounts for about one-third of infertility cases.
External factors:
Environmental pollution: In addition to water, air, and food pollution affecting reproductive function, other pollutants such as electricity, magnetism, radiation, and noise pollution, as well as microwave, infrared, ultraviolet, ultrasonic, X-ray, and gamma-ray radiation.
Toxic and harmful substances: Heavy metals like aluminum, cobalt, and lead, as well as gossypol, insecticides, herbicides, and preservatives can damage testicular spermatogenesis.
Manganese can cause 60% of affected women to fail to ovulate. Pesticides such as DDT, DDE, DDD, aldrin, and hexachlorobenzene can disrupt estrogen metabolism, leading to infertility. Benzene, butyl compounds, ethane, BHC, hydrocarbons, polymers, and phthalocyanine dyes can reduce estrogen secretion, affecting fertility.
Malnutrition, deficiencies in trace elements, and vitamin deficiencies can all lead to infertility. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause poor sperm cell development; vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to atrophy of the seminiferous tubules in the testes, a reduction in mature sperm, and a decrease in mature follicles; zinc deficiency can cause oligospermia, asthenospermia, and azoospermia; and copper deficiency can impair fallopian tube function, leading to infertility.