There are so many women who want to get pregnant so they can start their families. Sadly, this is not always easy for some of them. Infertility is a serious issue that affects many women and refers to the inability to get pregnant. It is typically diagnosed after a woman has tried to get pregnant for 12 months without a pregnancy. Many factors can cause infertility and although it can be difficult to diagnose, many women get the help they need if the cause is identified early enough. If you have been trying to get pregnant without success, here are some possible reasons why.
Endometriosis
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A healthy uterus has a lining of healthy cells known as the endometrium. Endometriosis is a condition where these endometrial cells migrate outside the uterus. Endometriosis has been linked to infertility, accounting for up to 50% of all infertility cases in women. Endometriosis can affect fertility in several ways including forming scar tissues that block the release of the egg, causing the formation of fluid in the lining of the abdomen that affects the egg and sperm and affecting the implantation due to the production of certain chemicals.
Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids are growths that form inside the uterus. They are usually non-cancerous and can cause mild to serious symptoms depending on their location and size. Scientists are still divided about the reason why they form, but the cause is thought to be genetic. There is also the thinking among some scientists that their growth can be caused by increased amounts of oestrogen through the normal female hormonal cycle.
Fibroids have been linked to infertility and are thought to be the cause of infertility in up to 10% of all women. Fibroids prevent sperm from entering the uterus by changing the shape of the cervix, prevent implantation by changing the uterus’ shape, block fallopian tubes, and interfere with the flow of blood to the uterus which makes implantation impossible.
In some cases, fibroids cause infertility differently because although they do not prevent implantation, they make it impossible to keep the pregnancy, leading to no successful pregnancies within the specified 12 months.
If you do have fibroids, you should get in touch with a gynaecologist. You can talk to the professionals at Circle Health Group who are experts in gynaecological complaints. You can also find great private hospitals on the platform that handle gynaecology complaints and issues, all of which have great professionals and experts too.
Issues with the Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle consists of a cascade of steps, with each step relying on the successful completion of the stage that came before it. If there is a problem with any of these stages, that could lead to infertility or difficulty getting pregnant.
To see if this is the cause of your infertility you can talk to a gynaecologist. They will look at various things like your hormones and egg production to understand why your cycle is not progressing as it should. The good news here is that some causes of these issues can be resolved with the right treatments.
Infections
Various infections can affect fertility in both men and women. Common infections that affect women’s infertility include chlamydia and gonorrhoea, especially if both of them are not treated. Syphilis, on the other hand, increases the risk of miscarriages and stillbirths. The treatment of HPV can also reduce the quality and amount of mucus found in the cervix which makes it harder for women to get pregnant. There is an HPV vaccine that is recommended for all boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 12 as well as later vaccines for those who did not get it early.
Hypothalamic Dysfunction
The luteinising hormone and the follicle-stimulating hormone are responsible for ensuring ovulation each month. These hormones are produced by the pituitary gland and if anything happens to them, the pituitary gland or their production, ovulation does not take place.
Some of the factors that can interfere with the production and release of these hormones include emotional and physical stress, very low or very high body weight and recent rapid weight loss or gain. If any of these factors are affecting the production of these two hormones, you will first notice missing or irregular periods. This should be an indication that you need to see a doctor to have the levels of these hormones looked at.
Ovarian Insufficiency
Ovarian insufficiency is a somewhat rare cause of infertility, but it still appears in infertility statistics. This condition occurs when a woman’s ovaries are unable to produce eggs. The two most common causes of this are cancer treatments and genetic autoimmune diseases.
Difficulty getting pregnant is an issue that affects a sizable number of women. Fortunately, many of its causes can be treated if they are caught early enough. It is also important to remember the issue can also be caused by the man, so do have him checked too.
