A Synopsis of the Guide
If you’ve tried to conceive with frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year without success, you may be suffering from infertility.
About one-third of the time, infertility is caused by female causes, and about one-third of the time, by both female and male factors. In other cases, the causes of infertility are either unknown or a mix of male and female factors.
It might be challenging to identify the causes of female infertility. Depending on the cause of infertility, there are many therapies. One of the many treatments is IVF. The most renowned IVF centre in Ahmedabad, India is Banker IVF. Their success ratio has reached the skies, fulfilling the dream of parenthood for infertile couples. So, if you are looking to get an IVF treatment done, Book an appointment by the number given on their official website.
However, some infertile couples manage to conceive naturally with proper care and attention. In today’s guide, you will come across everything related to female infertility.
Female Infertility Symptoms
The inability to conceive is the most common sign of infertility. You may not be ovulating if your monthly cycle is too long (35 days or more), excessively short (less than 21 days), irregular, or non-existent. There may be no additional symptoms or indicators.
When to see a Fertility Doctor?
When you should see a doctor, completely depends on your age.
- Most medical professionals advise attempting to conceive for at least a year before testing or therapy until age 35.
- After six months of trying, talk to your doctor about your concerns if you’re between the ages of 35 and 40.
- Your doctor could prescribe testing or therapy immediately away if you are over 40.
- If you or your spouse has a history of known fertility issues, irregular or painful periods, pelvic inflammatory disease, recurrent miscarriages, cancer treatment, or endometriosis, your doctor may want to start testing or treatment right away.
Causes of Infertility
Every step of the human reproduction process must go correctly to conceive and deliver a baby without any complications. Here are the steps in this process:
- The developed egg is released by one of the two ovaries in women.
- The fallopian tube takes the egg in its grasp.
- To reach the egg for fertilization, sperm swim up the cervix, into the uterus, and then into the fallopian tube.
- The fetus’s fertilized egg descends the fallopian tube and enters the uterus.
- The fertilized egg grows by implanting (attaching) to the uterus’ inside wall.
Women are prone to infertility and this can disrupt the pregnancy at any step or not let that even happen. There are a lot of factors responsible for it, and they are mentioned below.
Ovulation Disorders
The majority of instances of infertility are caused by sporadic or non-existent ovulation. Ovulation difficulties can result from issues with the ovary, the pituitary gland, or the brain, which regulates reproductive hormones.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Ovulation is impacted by the hormonal imbalance brought on by PCOS. PCOS is linked to insulin resistance, obesity, abnormal body or facial hair development, and acne. It is the most frequent and common reason for infertility in women.
- Hypothalamic dysfunction: Each month, the pituitary gland releases two chemicals, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone, to promote ovulation (LH). A very high or extremely low body weight, a recent significant weight gain or loss, or excessive physical or emotional stress can all interfere with the production of these hormones and impair ovulation. The most typical symptoms are irregular or missing menstruation.
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: This condition is also known as a premature ovarian failure. It is typically brought on by an autoimmune reaction or the early loss of eggs from your ovaries, which may be brought on by genetics or chemotherapy. In younger women, the ovary reduces estrogen production since it no longer produces eggs.
- Surplus of prolactin: Prolactin can be produced in excess by the pituitary gland (hyperprolactinemia), which inhibits the production of estrogen and may result in infertility. The meds you’re taking for a different ailment may be the cause of this.
Tubal Infertility – Infertility caused due to Damaged Fallopian Tubes
Fallopian tubes that are damaged or clogged prevent sperm from reaching the egg or restrict the fertilized egg from entering the uterus. The following list of factors may contribute to fallopian tube injury or obstruction:
- Chlamydia
- gonorrhea, or
- other sexually transmitted infections
These can infect the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease. Previous pelvic or abdominal surgery may also be necessary for ectopic pregnancy, in which a fertilized egg implants and develops outside of the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when tissue that usually grows in the uterus gets implanted and grows in other places. The surgical excision of this excess tissue growth may result in scarring, which may obstruct fallopian tubes and prevent the union of an egg and sperm.
Additionally, endometriosis can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting properly. The illness also appears to harm sperm or eggs, which would have a less obvious impact on fertility.
Uterus & Cervical Conditions
The following uterine or cervical conditions may prevent the egg from implanting or increase the chance of miscarriage:
- The uterus frequently develops benign polyps or tumors (fibroids or myomas). Some can reduce fertility by preventing implantation or blocking fallopian tubes. But plenty of women with fibroids or polyps do get pregnant.
- Obstacles to getting pregnant or maintaining pregnancy might result from uterine issues that are present from birth, such as a uterus that is not normally formed.
- A cervix injury or hereditary abnormality can lead to cervical stenosis, a narrowing of the cervix.
- There are occasions when the cervix is unable to create the ideal kind of mucus to allow the sperm to pass through and enter the uterus.
Something like unexplained infertility also exists. In such cases, the reason for infertility is not diagnosed. It could get frustrating and it could happen because of a combination of several major or minor problems in both partners. You should get infertility treatments as soon as possible.
What are the Risk Factors?
- Age: We all know that age affects fertility. With growing age, fertility decreases, and hence, the quality of eggs depletes.
- Smoking: Damages cervix and fallopian tubes, increases the risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, and depletes your eggs prematurely.
- Weight: Ovulation may be impacted by being significantly overweight or underweight. The risk of pregnancy and the frequency of ovulation may both rise with a healthy body mass index (BMI).
- Sexual History: Having sex with multiple partners can increase your chance of being infected with STDs.
- Alcohol: Excess alcohol consumption can reduce fertility.
Safeguarding Yourself from Infertility
For women thinking to take a chance of getting pregnant soon or in the future, these tips might help:
- Keep a healthy weight: Women who are overweight or underweight have a higher risk of developing ovulation problems. Exercise moderately if you need to lose weight. Exercise that is difficult and intense for more than five hours per week has been linked to a reduction in ovulation.]
- Give up smoking: Tobacco use has a number of detrimental impacts on fertility as well as overall health and fetal health. If you smoke and are thinking about getting pregnant, stop immediately.
- Skip the alcohol: Reduced fertility may result from heavy drinking. And any alcohol consumption can harm a fetus’s health as it develops. Avoid alcohol and don’t drink while pregnant if you intend to get pregnant.
- Don’t stress: According to a few types of research, couples who are stressed out may experience worse outcomes from infertility treatments. Prior to attempting a baby, try to lessen your stress levels.
We hope that you found this guide informative. For the best IVF treatments and infertility-related consultations, you can trust Banker IVF. Their team of IVF specialists and experts will fulfill your dream of parenthood.
