What is Fertility?
Fertility is the ability of an individual or couple to produce a child through normal sexual activity. Around 90% of healthy, fertile women can reproduce in one year if they have intercourse regularly without contraception. Fertility is most commonly considered when there is the inability to reproduce naturally, and it is also referred to as infertility.
Natural fertility requires the production of enough healthy sperm by the male and living egg by female, successful transit of the sperm through open ducts from the male testis to the fallopian tube, penetration of a healthy woman, and implantation of the fertilized egg in the lining of a uterus. An issue with any of these steps can cause infertility. Human fertility depends on a number of factors like nutrition, culture, endocrinology, instinct, timings, consanguinity, and emotions.
Fertility Definition
The term 'fertility' is defined as the state or quality of being fertile.
What is the Meaning of Fertility?
Fertility is the natural ability to give life. In humans and animals, fertility means that parents can reproduce. More precisely, fertility means the ability of a parent to produce viable offspring. The term “viable” implies “able to live and give birth”.
In agriculture, fertility means the ability of soil to support the growth of the plants because it contains the right proportion of minerals and nutrients.
What is Meant By Fertility in Humans?
Fertility means the quality of being productive. Physiological, the term fertility refers to the ability to conceive a baby. Before people had a better understanding of the human population, the term fertility was applied to a woman but now the term fertility may apply to either sex.
Virility refers to the wide range of masculine characteristics observed positively and suggests robust sexual activity and the ability to impregnate women. The term virility is commonly associated with healthy, strength, perseverance, and constitution. Hence, virility is to men and fertility is to women.
Biologically, women can become fertile at puberty ( usually between the ages 10-13) when the ovaries begin to function. Each month, a woman ovulates (releases an egg). Ovulation generally takes place around day 14 of a 28 days menstruation cycle. The woman is most fertile during this time. Fertilization may occur in the fallopian tubes if the sperm is present with the resulting embryo implanting in the uterus.
Women continue to release one egg each month throughout their reproductive years, though women’s fertility begins to diminish after the age of 30. Infertility occurs in only 5% of women in their thirties. However, by the time, they reach 30, they can expect 25% of their infertility which is defined as the inability to conceive a baby after one year of unprotected sex ( six months if the woman is 30 or older). The chances of delivering a healthy baby are even less due to miscarriage or other health conditions.
The arrival of menopause near the age of 50 marks the stoppage of the women’s menstruation cycle and her ability to reproduce. However, men remain sexually fertile throughout most of their adulthood. After the arrival of puberty, when the pesticides begin to function, males can produce a continuous supply of sperms, capable of impregnating women (though males fertility does diminish with age).
Fertility Problem Sign
It is common for a couple to observe fertility issues after they have tried to get pregnant unsuccessfully for a year. Most of the causes of infertility are silent and they don't have obvious symptoms. However, the following signs may indicate a fertility issue and may give you signal to appoint a doctor.
Your age is 35 or more, and you have been trying to conceive for 6 months.
Your age is less than 35 and you have had unprotected sexual intercourse for one year without getting pregnant.
You may have faced two or more successive pregnancy losses.
You may have any risk factor for infertility.
The Most Common Symptoms of Fertility Issues are as Follows:
Menstruation cycles are irregular.
Pelvic pain or pain during sexual intercourse.
Unusual heavy period or abnormal menstruation bleeding.
Bad menstruation cramps and unusual light or heavy periods.
Sexual Dysfunction (the term means the problem that you may have which prevents you from wanting or enjoying sexual activity).
Did You Know?
Women are born with about 1 million to 2 million eggs but able to release only 300-400 during ovulation during their lifetime. Generally, women release only one egg each month.
Generally, the best chance for women to get pregnant is when sexual intercourse occurs 1-2 days before ovulation.
As per the UN Population Division, a total fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman is known as replacement-level fertility.
Replacement fertility is defined as the total fertility rate (TFR) at which women give birth to enough young ones to preserve population growth.
Nigeria has the highest total fertility rate in the world with 6.91 children born per woman( estimates in the year 2001).
FAQs on Fertility
1. What is the biological definition of fertility in humans?
In human biology, fertility is defined as the natural capability to conceive and produce offspring. It requires the successful coordination of several physiological processes, including the production of healthy gametes (sperm in males and eggs in females), the successful fertilisation of the egg by a sperm, and the implantation and development of the embryo in the uterus.
2. What is the main difference between fertility and infertility?
The main difference lies in the ability to conceive. Fertility is the capacity to get pregnant and have a child, whereas infertility is clinically defined as the inability to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse (or six months for women over 35). Fertility represents a successful reproductive function, while infertility indicates a challenge or disruption in this process.
3. What are the key factors that can influence human fertility?
Several factors can significantly influence a person's fertility. These include:
- Age: Female fertility naturally declines with age, particularly after 35, as the quantity and quality of eggs decrease. Male fertility also declines with age, though more gradually.
- Hormonal Balance: Proper functioning of hormones like FSH, LH, estrogen, and testosterone is crucial for ovulation and sperm production.
- Lifestyle Choices: Factors like nutrition, body weight (both underweight and overweight), stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption can impact fertility.
- Reproductive Health: The health of reproductive organs and the absence of conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or blocked fallopian tubes are essential.
4. When is a woman most fertile during her menstrual cycle?
A woman is most fertile during her 'fertile window', which is a six-day period leading up to and including ovulation. Ovulation, the release of an egg from the ovary, typically occurs around day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle. The highest chances of conception are from intercourse that occurs in the 1-2 days immediately preceding ovulation.
5. How does male fertility change with age compared to female fertility?
The change in fertility with age differs significantly between males and females. Females are born with a finite number of eggs, and fertility begins to decline noticeably in their 30s, ending completely at menopause. In contrast, males can produce sperm throughout most of their adult life, starting from puberty. While male fertility does diminish with age, leading to lower sperm count and motility, the decline is much more gradual and less absolute than in females.
6. As per the UN, why is the replacement-level fertility rate considered 2.1 children per woman, not simply 2.0?
The replacement-level fertility rate is the average number of children a woman needs to have to replace both herself and her partner for a stable population, assuming no migration. While it seems logical for this number to be 2.0, it is set at approximately 2.1 in developed countries. The extra 0.1 accounts for the possibility that not all children will survive to reproductive age and also considers the slight imbalance in sex ratios at birth.
7. What are some common causes of infertility discussed in the CBSE Class 12 syllabus?
According to the CBSE Class 12 curriculum, particularly in the chapter on Reproductive Health, common causes of infertility can be physical, congenital, hormonal, or immunological. Key examples include:
- In Females: Ovulatory dysfunction (failure to produce eggs), blocked fallopian tubes preventing the transport of the egg, and issues within the uterus like fibroids or polyps.
- In Males: Low sperm count (oligospermia), poor sperm motility (asthenozoospermia), or blockages in the ducts that carry sperm.
8. How does the term 'virility' in males relate to the concept of 'fertility'?
While often used interchangeably, 'virility' and 'fertility' have distinct meanings. Fertility in males specifically refers to the biological ability to produce healthy sperm and father a child. Virility is a broader term associated with masculine characteristics, including strength, vigour, and a healthy sex drive. A male can be virile (have a strong libido) but still be infertile due to issues with sperm production or quality.
