Fertility problems health issue (Essay Sample)

Fertility problems
Student’s Name
University Affiliation Fertility problems
Introduction
The failure to conceive after successive attempts in a given year or over a certain duration of time is considered as fertility problem. Couples in different parts of the United States seek medical advice as an inability to get pregnant despite not using any fertility pills. The fertility problem is considered as a serious challenge in most families due to the emotional and psychological turmoil that is brings to couples. As a result, it is considered as a sociological problem that needs the development of sociological solution to help ease the stress it causes to the concerned families. On this research paper, the fertility problem will be discussed to determine its prevalence on impacts on families across the United States (Chandra & Copen, 2013).
Part 1: macro view of fertility problem
Prevalence of fertility problem
Fertility problem has remained a major challenge to a number of couples in different parts of the world. According to the world health organization, the prevalence of the condition is sporadically spread in different parts of the world and influenced by a number of factors. These factors determine the fertility rate of individuals, and if widespread in these regions translate to a higher prevalence. According to this report, the prevalence of the fertility problem can be measured by the number of patients attending in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics for assistance (Payne, 2008).
The number of cycles performed before the IVF is considered successful is also illustrative of the nature of fertility problem on the patients. Infertility in male patients has also been determined through the evaluation of the data available on the number of patients seeking donor insemination. This demonstrates the inability of the patient to achieve natural fertilization from coitus. 10% of women in their reproductive age in the United States are currently experiencing challenges trying to get pregnant (Bovin, Takefman & Braverman, 2011).
Research has demonstrated that 30% of the number is experiencing fertility problems associated with women while the other 30% is associated with men fertility problems. The remaining 40% is related to a number of unexplained causes and factors originating from both the couples. In the determination of the fertility problem, doctors have estimated the number of women who have failed to conceive after having successive unprotected sex for more than a year (Payne, 2008).
In the United Kingdom, studies have established that one in every seven couples is experiencing conception challenges. This translates to a total of 3.5 million people in the country. However, the ability to conceive after successive failed trials depend on the treatment and therapies that the patient is subjected to. The fertility problem has affected the developing world more as one in every four women is having a problem conceiving. The world health organization has approximated that a total of 186 million married women across the globe are experiencing fertility challenges every year (Bovin, Takefman & Braverman, 2011).
The fertility problem has been viewed as a women issue for a long time and this has led to the exclusion of the role of men in the entire play. However, the problem of fertility has faced both genders and couples in a marriage are affected in equal measure. Though the level of fertility problem in men has remained shrouded due to lack of adequate medical information, male fertility problem has become a major sociological issue. This explains the emergence of sperm donor firms and institutions across the world which has assisted the male with low sperm count to acquire a donated sperm from a sperm bank (Payne, 2008).
The information available on the women seeking in vitro fertilization, in fertility clinics has led to the conclusion that women are the most affected by the fertility problem. However, as captured by world health organization, 30% of fertility problems are as a result of feminine issues while the other 30% is related to masculine issues. The remaining percentage is associated to some unexplained causes that may be caused by both the couples. This makes fertility problem a challenge that is caused and related to the population in equal proportion (Chandra & Copen, 2013).
Biological, physiological and social impacts of fertility problem on the society
Fertility problem has remained a major challenge to many couples and its impacts have affected the society in a number of ways. The couple’s inability to conceive has been associated to a stressful situation that results into a number of physiological conditions. Anxiety, depression, isolation and increased sexual dysfunction and loss of interest that results into weakening of the marriage are some of the impacts of fertility problem to families. The inability of a couple to conceive has been considered as a societal problem in different parts of the world. In most cases, both the spouses are blamed for the inability to conceive (Payne, 2008).
Conception is a biological and physiological event that is mediated by the body and supported biologically the endocrine functionality. However, failure to conceive has to the development of psychological problems in couples that have translated to a number of health challenges. In most societies, the women are blamed whenever the fertility issue arose and this affects the relationship. With the relationship among the couples threatened, the possibility of overcoming the problem is reduced and this escalates the challenge further (Bovin, Takefman & Braverman, 2011).
Families and friends become isolated and the couples are forced to deal with the problem without the support of their friends and families. This increases the psychological stress on the couples and significantly affects the ability to conceive even under medication. Ovulation is a biological process that is supported by the endometrial hormones and the entire endocrine is used. The production of hormones in the body is related to the psychological wellbeing of an individual. Stress episodes results into irregularity in the ovulation process and this affect the monitoring and the use of in vitro fertilization to solve the fertility problem. Therefore, psychological and social stress related to the demands from the society, family and friends affect the development of a viable solution to the fertility problem (Payne, 2008).
Fertility problem policies
The prevalence of the fertility problem in the country and beyond has led to the development of a number of policies aimed at solving the problem. Different countries have developed country specific policies and these have aimed at addressing the problem within their boundaries. However, international organizations like the world health organization and other fertility oversight bodies have developed policies to help in the mitigation of the problem (Chandra & Copen, 2013).
Social policies have been used in the development of demographic mitigation measures in different parts of the globe. In Switzerland, the use of social policies by demographers has assisted in addressing the fertility problems within the OECD countries. According to sociologist, the current population trend in Europe and Nordic countries will create a welfare and labor problem. This has led to the shift of the fertility challenge from a medical challenge to a sociological issue that can be solved through the enactment of social policies (Chandra & Copen, 2013).
As a societal problem, most social policies developed have emphasized on the gender equity theory and this explains the use of fertility comparison between countries in macro-level studies. These studies have established that fertility rates in different countries are related to the level of female employment and the development of family friendly policies. Female employment and family friendly work environments have assisted in the reversal of the challenge within the OECD countries (Bovin, Takefman & Braverman, 2011).
By providing a family friendly environment, female labor workforce is currently enabled to work while raising children. Female unemployment is currently used as one of the most dominant predictors of fertility in women. A policy that encourages high unemployment of the female force creates a tough labor market for the women. This makes withdrawal to attend to family issues like maternity leave impossible (Chandra & Copen, 2013).
Current research and treatment of fertility problem
The extent of the fertility problem and its high prevalence within the society has led to the introduction of a number of researches aimed at solving the problem. Most research studies have focused on the development of new treatment approaches and the improvement in the success rate of the in vitro fertilization approach. In the treatment of this problem, time is of great essence as a delay in seeking medical advice can complicate the situation for the couples. Some fertility problems are caused by incompatibility issues that can be addressed through therapeutic therapies. In the treatment of fertility problem, the determination of the cause is of great essence. If done at the right time, the couples can increase their chances of having a child (Bovin, Takefman & Braverman, 2011).
Part 2: micro view of fertility problem
Client introduction to social worker
Addressing fertility problem has progressed from the medical approach to include the use of social professionals. As a result, social workers are faced with daily challenges of addressing fertility problems among couples. In most cases, couples with fertility problems seek the assistance of fertility doctors who provide professional and medical advice to the patients (Covington, 1988)...