What are the Most Common Causes of Female Infertility?

Infertility can affect both men and women, but it’s typically associated with women as it affects them more often than men. About one in eight couples experience fertility problems, most of which are due to issues with the woman rather than the man. If you and your partner are facing trouble conceiving, or if you’ve already tried unsuccessfully to conceive naturally, there are many possible causes of female infertility that could be affecting you.

Tubal Factor — The major cause of Infertility

Tubal factors refer to conditions or factors that are associated with fallopian tubes and thus female Infertility. Some tubal factors result in blockage of the fallopian tubes, while others lead to inflammation or infection of the tubes. Some tubal factor infertility can be treated by surgery, while others can only be addressed with assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Ovulation Disorders

An ovulation disorder may be to blame if you can’t get pregnant. Ovulation disorders prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg each month, preventing you from getting pregnant. Some causes include endometriosis, fibroids, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Treatment for ovulation disorders is generally very effective in increasing fertility. Your doctor will likely recommend timed intercourse or IVF to help increase your chances of conceiving with PCOS, as well as low-dose hormone therapy or surgery for women with fibroids or endometriosis.

Fertility treatments could increase your chances of conceiving, but they won’t address any underlying health conditions that might still cause problems down the road. For example, a woman infertile due to PCOS might use assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like IVF to become pregnant and give birth. Still, more than half develop type 2 diabetes by age 40. That’s why it’s essential to consider all possible causes when considering treatment options for infertility.

PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects between 5% and 10% of women. An imbalance in sex hormones causes PCOS, also known as a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It’s linked to irregular menstrual cycles, difficulty getting pregnant, and miscarriage. The problem with PCOS is that too much testosterone affects fertility by shutting down eggs from developing correctly. You can manage PCOS through medication or surgery to correct hormonal imbalances and restore standard ovulation patterns. However, if these treatments fail to improve egg quality and fertility levels, assistants can use reproductive technologies to treat PCOS.

Uterine Factors

In some cases, issues with your uterus can make it difficult to get pregnant. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a medical test that checks if your fallopian tubes and uterus can let sperm travel through them. If your tubes are blocked or damaged, they might need to be unblocked surgically before you can become pregnant. Endometriosis may also cause infertility in women as it can prevent eggs from being released by your ovaries at ovulation time. In addition, endometriosis has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. Lastly, fibroids may develop inside your uterus, preventing embryos from attaching to it properly and growing into babies during pregnancy.

Endometriosis

The Endometrium is like a tissue layer that lines parts of your uterus. Endometriosis occurs when cells from your Endometrium grow in other areas outside your uterus. Women with endometriosis experience pain, heavy menstrual periods, and other issues related to reproduction. If you’re experiencing any one or more symptoms, it’s essential to see a doctor right away.

Although there isn’t a cure for endometriosis, doctors can treat the symptoms and help you live more life!

Infections

Some infections can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, making it difficult or impossible for her to become pregnant. Examples include untreated chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Pregnancy can also trigger pelvic inflammatory disease, preventing a woman from getting pregnant later on. If you’re not sure whether you’ve had an infection recently, ask your doctor whether it could have caused fertility problems down the road. (It’s worth noting that some STDs don’t show any symptoms at all.)

Structural Abnormalities

The reproductive system may be affected by a variety of structural anomalies. These conditions may prevent an egg from being released or disrupt its transit to and from the uterus. Examples include pelvic tumors, uterine fibroids, uterine abnormalities, and endometriosis. Women who have undergone previous abdomen surgery or pelvic infections have a higher chance of developing this problem. Uterine scarring is another possible cause of fertility problems in women over 40 years old who have not been able to conceive; however, it is not as common as other factors such as ovulation issues.

You can read more informative blogs on female fertility, male fertility, PCOS, etc., on Antenate.health where doctors like Dr. Shesha Sinha and a few more provide valuable information and some female talks.