Sterility may be defined as the inability to conceive. This feature is dominant among females. And in males it can be described as the failure or incapacity to impregnate a female. Sterility means the failure to reproduce. To give a broad definition of sterility, it should be distinguished from frigidity among females and impotence among males. Frigidity and impotence both indicate a failure to perform the sex act or to perform it imperfectly. A female conceives when the sperm of the male, inserted into the vagina during the sexual intercourse, travels through the uterus and unites with the ovum secreted by the ovaries. If this union fails to occur, the woman does not conceive. If the seminal fluid of the male does not contain the sperms needed to impregnate the ova, he is said to be sterile.

Causes and Symptoms: According to ancient Ayurvedic texts, the general causes of sterility can be mentioned as defective sperms or ova, congestion of the ovaries or the ducts which carry the sperm, trauma sustained by the genital organs, functional disorders of the reproductive organs, congenital defects in those organs, deformities resulting from injuries or certain diseases like syphilis or gonorrhoea, and improper development of the reproductive organs. The sterility in females and males should be discussed separately.

Sterility among Females: Sterility among females may be caused by certain congenital deformities such as the mouth of the uterus being clogged congenitally or by an inflammation, displacement of the uterus, inflammation of the mouth of the womb, anaemia and other diseases, malnutrition, and blood poisoning.

Congenital or organic defects in the reproductive organs can be cured only through surgery, but if sterility is due to functional causes, it is easy to cure. The vitiation of the various doshas i.e. vata, pitta, and kapha are responsible for that. Any one of them or all the three together is likely to lead to sterility.

Medicines & Prescriptions: The most effective remedy for sterility among females is Plwla Ghrita. It should be given in doses of two teaspoonfuls each, twice daily. It should be taken preferably on an empty stomach and with milk. Another drug of choice is Vanga Bhasma. It should be given in doses of 150 mg each, twice daily with honey. Shilajit is another effective drug in the treatment of this condition. It should be given in doses of one teaspoonful twice daily.

Bala or Sida rhombifolia is used both internally and locally for the treatment of sterility. The root of this plant is boiled in milk and oil. It is used with lukewarm water as a douche. It removes the defects in the mucous membrane of the genital tract, which inhibit the effective union of the sperm with the ovum in the uterus. The medicated oil is given with a cup of milk in the morning in a dose of one teaspoonful.

The above medicines are to be administered after the physician is sure that the failure to conceive on the part of the woman is due to some defect in her genital organs. The best course is to ensure that the husband is not sterile. This can be done through an examination of his semen. Generally it is found that 35 per cent of the cases of sterility are due to weak or defective sperms. If that is the case, the male partner should be treated first.

Excessive fat often inhibits conception. Obesity must be treated first through regulation of diet and a regimen of slimming exercises in that case.

Diet and Other Regimen: A woman under treatment for sterility must be advised to abstain from alkaline and pungent foods. Fruits and sweet substances should be consumed in larger quantities. The diet should be adequate to meet all the needs of the body. It must contain sufficient proteins. Daily physical exercise and proper hygiene are highly recommended.

Sterility among Males: Sterility among males is the result of absence of sperm in the semen. This condition is called as azoospermia. Another one is or paucity of the sperms. This is known as oligospermia.

Sterility among males and also females may be caused by prolonged illness. It can also be caused by a venereal disease, injuries, or congenital deformities. For example, if there is a malfunctioning of the ductless glands which secrete the hormones responsible for the regulation of the sperm, infertility or failure to procreate would definitely result.

It is necessary here to stress that sterility among males should not be confused with impotence. The former is the incapacity to reproduce, whereas the latter is the failure to perform the sexual act. An impotent man may become the father of many children because even his incapacity to complete the coitus may not discourage the emission of sperms, which may unite with the ovum to form the foetus.

If there is a complete lack of sperms in the semen, the condition termed as azoospermia. It is not an easy malady to cure. But if the sperms are present but are too few in number to be effective i.e. termed as oligospermia, there is not much difficulty in handling the condition.

Medicines & Prescriptions: Ashwagandha i.e. Withania somnifera is the drug of choice for male infertility. The fresh root of this wild plant smells like the urine of a horse, hence the name Ashwagandha that means the smell of the horse. When dried, the smell disappears and the drug can be taken without any difficulty. The powder of the dried root of the plant is taken in doses of one teaspoonful twice daily mixed with milk. Alternatively, it may be boiled with milk, and sugar may be added to it. It is, in that case, turned into linctus and a teaspoonful of it can be taken twice daily, followed by milk. Another preparation is Ashwagandharishta. The basic ingredients of this one are Ashwagandha and alcohol and that may be given in doses of 100 ml each after meals.

Another useful remedy is Kapi Kacchu i.e. Mucuna pruriens which is prescribed for male sterility. The seeds outside the pods of this wild-growing creeper are powdered after being roasted, and a teaspoonful of the powder is administered twice daily with a cup of milk.

But the most celebrated of the remedies for sterility in Ayurveda is Makaradhwaja. Given in a 150 mg dose to the patient on an empty stomach, with half a teaspoonful of butter and half a teaspoonful of sugar, it has a miraculous effect.

In addition, all the drugs prescribed for impotence are helpful in dealing with male sterility. But aphrodisiacs i.e. drugs which stimulate sex should be taken in proper quantities.

Diet and Other Regimen: The patient should be advised to desist from sour and pungent substances as they have a detrimental effect on the production of sperms. Milk, ghee, butter, and sweet substances are good for this condition. A high protein diet, particularly fish, white meat, and eggs, is recommended.

A man under treatment for sterility should avoid over indulgence in sex.