Fruchtbarkeitserhaltung

Fruchtbarkeit, or fertility, is the natural potential to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term. In humans, fertility encompasses the biological ability of both partners to produce viable eggs and sperm and to achieve pregnancy. Fertility is influenced by age, health, genetics, and lifestyle. Female fertility declines with age, especially after about 30 and more markedly after 35, while male fertility tends to decline more gradually with age. Hormonal balance, ovulation, and the integrity of the reproductive tract all play key roles.

Various factors can reduce fertility, including medical conditions (such as ovulatory disorders, endometriosis, tubal blockage, or male factors like low sperm count or poor sperm function), as well as lifestyle and environmental influences (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, stress, exposure to toxins, and certain medications). Some factors are reversible with treatment or lifestyle changes, while others may require assisted reproductive technologies.

Assessment for infertility is typically considered after a period of regular unprotected intercourse without conception (commonly 12 months for people under 35, or six months for those 35 and older). Evaluation may include medical history, semen analysis, hormonal testing, and imaging studies. Treatments range from lifestyle modifications and medication to procedures such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Fertility preservation options, including cryopreservation of oocytes or sperm, provide choices for delaying pregnancy or safeguarding fertility before medical treatments.

Global fertility rates vary widely due to demographic, economic, and social factors. Public health efforts often address access to reproductive health services, education, and support for individuals and couples navigating fertility decisions.