Fertility, infertility & miscarriage problems: advice and help

Genes and infertility

Male infertility: The most well known genetic cause of male infertility is Klinefelter's syndrome - in this condition, affected males have an extra X chromosome so in all they have 47 chromosomes, including two X and one Y chromosome. Klinefelter's causes total infertility unless the man happens to have some normal cells in his body (he is then known as a mosaic); the higher the proportion of normal cells, the more fertile he will be. Other chromosomal abnormalities involving the X and/or Y chromosomes can also cause male infertility. In addition to these chromosome abnormalities there are several genes on the Y chromosome that affect the development of sperm. Deletions of these genes or major changes in them can cause varying degrees of male infertility. All these possibilities need to be explored by laboratory tests.

Female infertility: The most well known genetic cause of female infertility is called Turner's syndrome - in this condition, affected females have usually only one X chromosomes in all have 45 chromosomes, 45,X. Like Klinefelter's, this can also be modified by the presence of normal cells (mosaic) or caused by other structural abnormalities of the X chromosome.

Other genes can also affect female and male infertility by causing serious disturbances in metabolism. In addition, some genes that affect clotting may increase the risk of second trimester and later pregnancy losses.

Is there a lifestyle cause?

The gene abnormalities are not usually caused by lifestyle except indirectly through lifestyle influences (in the parent) on the ability of cells to divide normally. Poor lifestyle can however add to the problems and should always be optimised.

For specific advice visit the ez-fertility natural fertility resources and either answer the online lifestyle evaluation or read It takes two - reproducing naturally today.