Fertility

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FERTILITY
Fertility is the natural capability of giving life. As a measure, Fertility in young women is the ability to become pregnant. Fertility in young men means being able to make a woman pregnant.

FECUNDITY
Fecundity, derived from the word fecund, generally refers to the ability to reproduce. In demography,[1][2] fecundity is the potential reproductive capacity of an individual or population. In biology, the definition is more equivalent to fertility, or the actual reproductive rate of an organism or population, measured by the number of gametes (eggs), seed set, or asexual propagules. This difference is because demography considers human fecundity which is often intentionally limited, while biology assumes that organisms do not limit fertility. Fecundity is under both genetic and environmental control, and is the major measure of fitness. Fecundation is another term for fertilization. Superfecundity refers to an organism's ability to store another organism's sperm (after copulation) and fertilize its own eggs from that store after a period of time, essentially making it appear as though fertilization occurred without sperm (i.e. parthenogenesis).[citation needed] Fecundity is important and well studied in the field of population ecology. Fecundity can increase or decrease in a population according to current conditions and certain regulating factors. For instance, in times of hardship for a population, such as a lack of food, juvenile and eventually adult fecundity has been shown to decrease.[clarification needed] Fecundity has also been shown to increase in ungulates with relation to warmer weather. In the philosophy of science, fecundity refers to the ability of a scientific theory to open new lines of theoretical inquiry. In sexual evolutionary biology, especially in sexual selection, fecundity is contrasted to reproductivity. In obstetrics and gynecology, fecundability is the probability of being pregnant in a single menstrual cycle, and Fecundity is the probability of achieving a live birth within a single cycle.[3]

MISCARRIAGE
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation. What causes a miscarriage, and what are the tests for the different causes?

The

cause of a miscarriage cannot always be determined. The most common known

causes of miscarriage in the first third of pregnancy (1st trimester) are chromosomal abnormalities, collagen vascular disease (such as lupus), diabetes, other hormonal problems, infection, and congenital (present at birth) abnormalities of the uterus. Chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus are the most common cause of early miscarriages, including blighted ovum (see above). Each of the causes will be described below .Miscarriage is the most common complication of early pregnancy.[1] An impending miscarriage will often have some distinct symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping, but having these symptoms in pregnancy does not always mean a miscarriage. If you have any of these symptoms, please see a doctor as soon as possible for a medical evaluation. Vaginal Bleeding Bleeding or spotting is the first sign of a miscarriage for many women. Although vaginal bleeding is nearly always scary, remember that even heavy bleeding does not always equal a miscarriage. Sometimes bleeding might happen due to cervical irritation or the process of implantation, and it may stop and the pregnancy may continue without further problems. About 10% of all pregnant women experience vaginal bleeding at some point during the pregnancy. Report vaginal bleeding at any point in pregnancy to a medical practitioner. He will probably have you come in for an exam to see what·s going on. Severe Abdominal Pain Severe pain in the abdomen can be a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy, which is a life threatening condition that occurs when a baby is implanted outside the uterus. Severe pain in early pregnancy, especially if it is on one side of the abdomen, should always be

investigated as an emergency. Milder cramping that is similar to menstrual cramps can occur in normal pregnancies and is not necessarily a sign of miscarriage. Fading Pregnancy Symptoms One other common concern in early pregnancy is fading pregnancy symptoms, such as loss of morning sickness or breast soreness. This is an unreliable indicator of loss; symptoms may fluctuate for any reason and so should not be considered cause to worry -- although it should be mentioned to a doctor at the next scheduled appointment. Not Feeling the Baby Move (Late Second/Third Trimester) In the second half of pregnancy, if you have begun to feel the baby move, your caregiver will probably advise you to call if a certain amount of time passes that you don·t feel any movements. Your practitioner will give you instructions on when to call for an evaluation, but if you are not feeling movement under those guidelines, your doctor may ask you to come in for fetal heart monitoring to make sure that your baby is okay. Preterm Labor In the second or third trimester, any signs of preterm labor should result in an immediate call to one·s practitioner and possibly a trip to the emergency room, depending on your doctor·s advice. Signs of preterm labor include: Contractions every 10 minutes or more frequently Vaginal discharge changes Pelvic pressure Cramps that feel like menstrual cramps Dull backache If You Have Miscarriage Symptoms

If you are having miscarriage symptoms, remember to see your doctor as soon as possible for diagnostic testing. Your pregnancy may still go on to be normal, or you may indeed be having a pregnancy loss.

If your doctor does end up diagnosing a miscarriage, remember that miscarriage causes are rarely your fault. Please take care of yourself and look for good support resources to help you get through the experience.

STERILITY
Sterility, also referred to as infertility, is defined as an inability to conceive a child after trying to do so for at least one year. Sterility can affect both men and women, with the cause involving either one or both parties.

For a man to be fertile, the testicles must produce enough healthy sperm to be ejaculated effectively into the woman's vagina.

For a woman to be fertile, the ovaries must release healthy eggs regularly. In addition, her reproductive tract must allow the eggs and sperm to pass into her fallopian tubes to become fertilized and implanted in the uterus. What Causes Sterility?

Sterility is classified into two groups, primary and secondary. Primary sterility means that a pregnancy has never occurred. Secondary fertility involves one or both partners who have conceived previously, but are now unable to do so because of a possible physical or medical condition impairing fertility. A woman who keeps having miscarriages is also considered infertile.

Risk factors for both men and women are the same and these include age, stress, being underweight or overweight, diet, smoking, alcohol and drugs.

Age plays quite a critical role, as fertility peaks for both men and women in their midtwenties. Male fertility starts declining in their thirties, while women older than 35 years may experience problems conceiving. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease and anemia may also affect fertility. Female Sterility Prevention Measures: How to prevent female sterility is often dependent on whether or not a woman has defects that may affect her chances of having a child. If a woman is healthy enough and does not have any problems with her uterus, her fallopian tubes, or the other parts of her body that need to be healthy for her to conceive, then preventive measures can be undertaken. To prevent undue stress and fatigue, which can hinder the proper ovulation and fertilization of a woman·s egg cell, certain relaxation exercises and activities should be done. Try to practice meditation and yoga when you are stressed out from work or from some other factor that stresses you out. Having a relaxing massage or going to a spa to dip in a therapeutic spa treatment can also be helpful. Eating healthy and exercising is another way to help prevent infertility or sterility. Eating healthy foods and keeping yourself fit will help keep your body·s system running smoothly and will help keep your menstrual periods coming regularly.

ABORTION
Abortion is technically defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo before fetal viability; however, the term may be defined more broadly to include any termination of pregnancy before birth.[disputed ² discuss][note 1] An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human rather than non-human pregnancy. Abortion, when induced in the developed world in jurisdictions where the procedure is legal, is among the safest procedures in medicine.[1] However, unsafe abortions (those performed by persons without proper training or outside of a medical environment) result

in approximately 70 thousand maternal deaths and 5 million disabilities per year globally.[2] An estimated 42 million abortions are performed globally each year, with 20 million of those performed unsafely.[2] Forty percent of the world's women are able to access therapeutic and elective abortions within gestational limits.[3] Induced abortion has a long history and has been facilitated by various methods including herbal abortifacients, the use of sharpened tools, physical trauma, and other traditional methods. Contemporary medicine utilizes medications and surgical procedures to induce abortion. The legality, prevalence, cultural status, and religious status of abortion vary substantially around the world. In many parts of the world there is prominent and divisive public controversy over the ethical and legal issues of abortion. Abortion and abortionrelated issues feature prominently in the national politics in many nations, often involving the opposing pro-life and pro-choice worldwide social movements (both self-named). The incidence of abortion has declined worldwide as access to family planning education and contraceptive services has increased.[4] WAYS HOW TO PREVENT ABORTION One of the best ways to prevent abortions is education. Most people considering abortion are poorly informed and are unaware of fetal development, nor the physical and psychological repercussions of abortions. They are scared and confused, and believe it when they are told abortion will solve their problem. Preventing unwanted pregnancies is always the best way to prevent abortions. While it is often believed that increasing contraceptive use can decrease abortions, statistics have shown the opposite. The number 1 reason for getting an abortion (as stated on Planned Parenthood's website) is contraceptive failure. Also, in areas where abstinence is taught and encouraged instead of contraception, the rates of both AIDS and abortion are lower. 54% of women who have abortions had used a contraceptive method (usually the condom or the pill) during the month they became pregnant. Among those women, 76% of pill users and 49% of condom users report having used their method inconsistently, while 13% of pill users and 14% of condom users report correct use.

STILL BIRTH

A stillbirth occurs when a fetus has died in the uterus. The Australian definition specifies that fetal death is termed a stillbirth after 20 weeks gestation or the fetus weighs more than 400 grams (14 oz). Once the fetus has died the mother still has contractions and remains undelivered. The term is often used in distinction to live birth or miscarriage. Most stillbirths occur in full term pregnancies.

CAUSES
> bacterial infection birth defects, especially pulmonary hypoplasia > maternal diabetes high blood pressure, including preeclampsia maternal consumption of recreational drugs (such as alcohol, nicotine, etc.) or pharmaceutical drugs contraindicated in pregnancy postdate pregnancy placental abruptions physical trauma radiation poisoning Rh disease umbilical cord accidents[2] Prevention

As many of the causes are unknown or untreatable, prevention is difficult. Symptoms of bacterial infection, such as from a dental abscess, in pregnant women may also include unusual periods of incoherence and symptoms of shock, and should be treated by a physician immediately. High blood pressure, diabetes and drug use should be regulated with physician's advice. Umbilical cord constriction may be identified and observed by ultrasound.

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