Trident University
Cynthia Woodard
Module 1 Case Assignment
Dr. Gayl M. Anglin, Ph.D.
MPH 503: Infertility and Public Health
12 August 2013
1. What is the prevalence of infertility in the U.S.? (Your response should address both male and female factor infertility.)
2. What are the demographic characteristics (i.e., age, educational attainment, poverty status, race/ethnicity, etc.) of women with impaired fecundity?
3. What are the demographic characteristics of women receiving infertility treatment?
4. To what extent is there a gap between those in need of infertility treatment and those who actually receive it? If a gap indeed exists, to what factors does the scholarly literature attribute this discrepancy?
5. What are three common causes of infertility among women? Please explain each.
6. What are three common causes of infertility among men? Please explain each.

Introduction
Throughout this research, information about infertility within the United States will be addressed. Characteristics and other background aspects will provide us with in-depth information in order to be more familiar with the way people accept and deal with infertility within their family and community.
Prevalence of infertility in the U.S.
The prevalence of infertility is normally the cumulative sum of people who have encountered and managing issues with infertility the past year or longer. Within the United States, infertility equally affects women and men. The state of being unable to produce offspring is a little different between the two. In women, it is an inability to conceive and in men, it is the inability to impregnate. Women are privileged to have their own specialists to look after their health and potential pregnancies i.e., OB-GYNs. Men, however, have not been as privileged to enjoy the expertise of a specialized team of their medical profession. Despite the prevalence, there are multiple complaints such as prostate problems, middle age crisis, and male infertility and erection dysfunction. Because of their masculine sense of hidden pride, men of all age group tend not to seek medical advice and tend to postpone consulting a doctor until they have run out of all other resources. According to CDC, of the men who sought help, 18% of were younger than 45 years old reported being diagnosed with infertility problems.

Demographic characteristics of women with impaired fecundity
Women that encounter physical difficulties having their first child has experience several factors that’s normal to humans. Increasing age is a part of reality and as some women get up in age, they limit the ability to conceive. More women with inability to conceive were seen more from currently married, cohabiting, and formerly married women are between 15-44 years of age compared to those that have never been married. Uneducated females from different ethnic background tend to have more problems than those that have higher education, according to CDC. Asian females have a better chance in conceiving than those of other ethnic groups. From teenagers to middle age females, about 14 % of them have the physical inability to have a child. (Missmer, Hornstien 2005)
Demographic characteristics of women receiving infertility treatment
Disparities in access to health services affect individuals and society. Limited access to health care affects women ability to reach their full potential, negatively affecting their quality of life. There are barriers that prevent women from receiving the medical attention that is needed. Because of this, a lack of healthcare services that is needed will cause them to become more at risk to face an array of health conditions. (AHRO)
Gap between those in need and who actually receive infertility treatment
Providers or Healthcare Facilities are ethically required to treat all patients in need of medical attention and many providers already impose medical restrictions on access to infertility treatment. Denying services to patients for unknown reason can be portrayed as discrimination, which tends to have the patient thinking that the provider is stereotyping because of their background. (Cobb, 2010)
Three common causes of infertility among women
Damaged fallopian tubes, hormone issues, and cervical abnormalities are three common causes of infertility among women. Damage to the fallopian tubes can prevent contact between the egg and sperm. Pelvic infections, endometriosis, and pelvic surgeries may lead to fallopian tube damage. A small group of women may have a cervical condition in which the sperm cannot pass through the cervical canal due to abnormal mucus production or a prior cervical surgical procedure.
Three common causes of infertility among men Irregular sperm making, hereditary flaws, health problems, or infections such as mumps. Another cause is problems with the delivery of sperm due to sexual problems, such as early ejaculation and damage or injury to the reproductive organs. Overexposure to certain environmental factors such as pesticides and other chemicals, radiation, or to certain medications, such as steroids, or marijuana. Frequent exposure to heat, such as in saunas or hot tubs, can elevate core body temperature, impairing sperm production.

References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). National healthcare disparities report 2008. Chapter 3, Access to healthcare. Washington: AHRQ; 2007

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Reproductive
Health. Retrieved August 2013, from www.cdc.gov/reproductive health/infertility; www.cdc.gov/nccdphp

CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006-2010. Retrieved August 2013, from www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr067

Cobb, Torry Grantham, MPH, M.H.S., P.A.-C. (2010). Does every infertile patient have a guaranteed right to treatment? JAAPA: Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 23(6), 36-40. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/613388736?accountid=28844

Jain T, Missmer SA, Gupta RS, Hornstein, MD. Pre implantation, sex selection demand

and preferences in an infertility population. Fertil Steril 2005; 83:649–58