es with age. The older a couple is when trying to conceive, the more difficult it may be.
Infertility is not necessarily associated per se with elevated morbidity and mortality rates. However, in both males and females, some of the underlying causes of infertility (e.g., cystic fibrosis, sexually transmitted diseases, endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease) are associated with elevated morbidity and mortality rates (Clayman, 1989). No data are currently available on the total economic impact or on the costs of infertility, though Clayman (1989) has stated that the cost of infertility treatments using Western medicine can be quite high.
Stenner-Victorin, Waldenstrom, Andersson, and Wikland (1996) claim that in Western medicine, treatment for infertility among women can include ovarian stimulation with a drug such as clomiphene with or without a gonadotropin hormone as well as microsurgical repair of damage to the fallopian tubes, in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, and other interventions targeting uterine abnormalities or disorders such as fibroids. In males, the treatment of infertility is limited and includes pharmaceutical intervention for endocrine imbalance using clomiphene or gonadotropin therapy.
However, Xuefen (1997) has noted that the use of either human menopausal gonadatropin or human chorionic gonatropin may induce ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in women. Enlarged ovaries, excessive development of follicles, dysplasia of ova and insufficiency of corpus luteum are also associated with the pharmaceutical treatment of OHSS patients (Xuefen, 1997). Thus, a number of negative side effects are associated with conventional Western interventions. Some of these side effects are also observed among males who are treated for infertility due to an endocrine imbalance. Surgical interventions can also be accompanied by side effects, including both physical and psychological def...