What Causes Infertility?

In daily life, many couples who engage in regular sexual intercourse for one year without using contraception remain unable to conceive—this may indicate infertility. What are the causes of infertility?

Causes of Infertility

Tubal factors: The fallopian tubes serve as conduits transporting sperm, ova, and fertilized eggs into the uterine cavity. Dysfunction, tubal lumen obstruction, or disease affecting the fallopian tubes can lead to female infertility.
Ovarian factors: Failure of normal ovulation prevents formation of a fertilized egg, thereby precluding conception.

Cervical and uterine factors: Abnormal cervical anatomy (e.g., malformation or cervical canal atresia), uterine anatomical anomalies, endometriosis, or intrauterine adhesions resulting from acquired conditions can all contribute to female infertility.
Autoimmune factors: Autoimmune responses may generate antisperm antibodies, preventing sperm–ovum binding and leading to recurrent implantation failure of fertilized eggs.

Additionally, male factors—including abnormal semen parameters, oligospermia (low sperm count), teratospermia (abnormal sperm morphology), congenital absence or underdevelopment of the seminiferous tubules, coital difficulties, or erectile dysfunction—can also impair the female partner’s ability to conceive. Therefore, when infertility is suspected, both partners should undergo comprehensive medical evaluation simultaneously to identify the underlying cause(s) and initiate appropriate treatment.
Sexual factors: Marital sexual disharmony may adversely affect the female partner’s ova, hindering fertilization.
Endometriosis: Endometriosis is another major cause of female infertility, as it interferes with implantation of the fertilized egg.
We hope this information proves helpful!