What is the RHO project?
An education initiative created in response to the reproductive infertility that affects at least 180 million couples worldwide.
Purposes.
To generate public awareness of those factors affecting fertility.
To raise environmental consciousness about fertility as a vital resource that needs to be honoured, respected, and protected.
FERTILITY FACTS
According to Canada Statistics, the Total Fertility Rate (an estimate of the average number of live births a woman can be expected to have in her lifetime) is the lowest recorded in the last century.
1 in 6 couples have fertility difficulties. Of these, 30% to 40% of all infertility cases are due to male infertility.
Infertility affects at least 180 million couples worldwide.
According to Canada Statistics, the Total Fertility Rate (an estimate of the average number of live births a woman can be expected to have in her lifetime) is the lowest recorded in the last century.
1 in 6 couples have fertility difficulties. Of these, 30% to 40% of all infertility cases are due to male infertility.
Infertility affects at least 180 million couples worldwide.
Why this happens?
Historically, fertility rates have responded to major societal disruptions affecting public health (pandemics or natural or man-made disasters), or the economy (recession or downturn), and during times of heightened general uncertainty
Also, other reasons could be linked to reproductive infertility: the inability of a couple to conceive or carry a baby to term.
Reproductive Infertility Causes.
In women
- Ovulation disorder
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease PIV
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Hormone imbalance
- Congenital anomalies
- Exposure to chemicals or radiation
- Chronic diseases
Factors more amenable to personal control
- Age (decreases at 30)
- Weight - Over and under
- Excessive physical exercise
- Stress and psychological factors
- Smoking (tobacco and cannabinoids), alcohol, and substance use and abuse
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases STD
In men
- Sexual dysfunction
- Inadequate semen or sperm quality
- Chronic diseases
- Endocrine Disorders (hypogonadism)
Factors more amenable to personal control
- Smoking (tobacco and cannabinoids)
- Exercise or other activity which results in a prolonged increase in scrotal temperature
- Stress and other psychological factors may lead to sexual dysfunction
- Alcohol and substance use and abuse may result in either sexual dysfunction or inadequate sperm quality and quantity.
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases STD
- The consumption of pornography can lead to addictive behaviors and abnormal levels of reproductive hormones, affecting sperm quality
In couples.
It may be attributed to more than one cause. When considered separately, neither partner may have a fertility problem, but together their physiology is incompatible
Unexplained.
One possibility is environmental pollutants and occupational hazards that have yet to be fully researched.
Why is this important?
Unfortunately for some young adults, the realization of having children could be more difficult to achieve than for others. This outcome may largely depend upon the Reproductive Healthcare Options they choose, beginning with their teen years. The Centre for Reproductive Loss within the RHO Project is very committed to bringing awareness to young adults as the decisions they make in their everyday lives may affect their expectation of having children in the future.
RHO education initiative aims to make them aware that their fertility and their chances for parenthood are being threatened, often by their very own choices.
References.
- Statistics Canada. (2021). Fewer babies born, Canada's fertility rate hits record low in 2020. Retrieved from https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/960-fewer-babies-born-canadas-fertility-rate-hits-record-low-2020
- Statistics Canada. (2021). Births, 2020. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240131/dq240131c-eng.htm
- Statistics Canada. (2024). Canada's fertility, 2020: Data tables. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2024001-eng.htm
- Library of Parliament. (1994). Population growth and decline: Implications for Canada's future (Research Branch, PRB-032-E). Retrieved from https://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection-R/LoPBdP/EB-e/prb0032-e.pdf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. Causes of male infertility. In A. S. Rose (Ed.), StatPearls [Internet]. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/#:~:text=The%20male%20is%20solely%20responsible,for%20infertility%20and%20managed%20together.
- PubMed. (2021). Title of the specific article. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34566897/
- Kraus, S. W., Krueger, R. B., Briken, P., First, M. B., Stein, D. J., Kaplan, M. S., ... & Reed, G. M. (2018). Compulsive sexual behaviour disorder in the ICD-11. World Psychiatry, 17(1), 109-110. doi:10.1002/wps.20468
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REPRODUCTIVE LOSS
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