Infertility Information
For many couples, infertility is getting in the way of their dreams of building a family of their own. Some feel hopeless without realizing that this problem may be addressed with the right information, proper understanding of the problem – its causes and symptoms, and its possible treatment.
Infertility is defined by the inability to biologically contribute to conception after a year of regular intercourse. It may also refer to the failure of a female to carry a pregnancy to full term.
More in women than men
While men account for some of the infertility woes in a couple, majority of the problems lie with the women. In fact, more than half of the cases of infertility are results of female conditions. The rest of the cases are due to sperm disorders in the man or even unexplained causes.
Healthy regular menstruations contribute greatly to a woman’s possible pregnancy. Women with irregular or lack of period suffer ovulation problems, which is a very common cause of infertility. Women can also have tubal blockage, uterine problems and previous tubal ligation which can cause a woman to be infertile.
Age matters
A woman’s age also affects her chances at getting pregnant. The ability to conceive naturally decreases over time as part of the normal aging process. Women lose about 1000 eggs each month, and they produce less and less eggs as they age. Plus, conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis or certain sexually transmitted diseases worsen over time and can eventually lead to infertility.
Major causes of infertility
There are several causes of infertility, some of which may be repaired by medical intervention. Here are some of common causes and their possible treatment:
Pelcic Inflammatory Disease (PID): It is an extremely serious infection on the female’s reproductive organs. Untreated vaginal or cervical infections due to sexually transmitted diseases cause inflammation of the female’s uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. However, after treatment for PID, pregnancy is often accomplished through in vitro fertilization.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome: It is a hormonal disorder that disrupts the woman’s normal ovulation cycle. An inability to ovulate or ovulating irregularly is the cause of infertility in women with PCOS. Although, PCOS is treatable through medications like Metformin which reduces symptoms associated with PCOS by helping the body’s ability to absorb insulin therefore correcting hormone levels.
Hormone levels: Hormone levels should also be checked if a couple is having a hard time conceiving. Hormones are produced by the hypothalamus, pancreas, ovaries, testes and the pituitary, adrenal and thyroid glands. Diseases that affect any of these things can lead to infertility as well.
While there are several medical reasons which cause infertility, the couple also has to look at their lifestyle for causes of infertility. Things like smoking, consuming too much alcohol or illegal substance, weight issues, sexually transmitted diseases or even too much stress or exercise are all factors which cause infertility.
