Women Causes of Infertility – Major Reasons for Female Fertility Issues
A woman’s ability to ovulate is a key component of successful conception. Simply put, if the female is unable to produce an egg, you can expect to have no baby. The primary indicators of a potential problem with ovulation are either totally absent or intermittent monthly menstrual periods.
Medical Conditions
PCOS and POI are 2 of the more common issues regarding ovulation. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is defined as a hormonal problem that interferes with the normal ovulation mechanism. It is the highest recorded cause of female infertility.
Primary ovarian insufficiency, on the other hand, occurs when the woman’s ovaries fail to functioning like they should before she becomes 35 years old. POI is commonly thought to be early menopause, which is an entirely different illness.
Other Associated Causes
There are other uterine problems that also contribute to infertility.
- Fibroids in the uterus, which are non-cancerous clumps on the uterine walls
- Blocked Fallopian tubes because of ectopic pregnancy surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis
- Physical problems with the uterus
Factors That Increase Infertility Risks
Beyond problems with health, genetics and lifestyle habits can also lead to infertility among women. Including:
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Insufficient nutrient intake due to poor diet
- Age creep
- Too much physical activity
- Stress at home or workplace
- Under or overweight conditions
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Health issues that affect the body’s hormone producing abilities
Infertility Women Causes - The Age Factor
Many American women often do not have children until their 30s and 40s…and one third of all fertility issues involve the female being 35 years or older.
How Does Age Affect Fertility?
- Ovaries weaken with time & this affects their capacity to release eggs
- Older ovaries make fewer eggs
- The eggs released as not as healthy as a those of a younger woman
- Older women may experience healthy issues that interfere with her fertility
- Incidence of miscarriage increases with age
Stimulating Fertility with Drugs
These drugs are often prescribed for women who have fertility problems.
- Clomiphene citrate: Often recommended for women with PCOS and hormonal related malfunctions. You might recognize it by the brand Clomid, which is ingested orally.
- Human menopausal gonadotropin: hMG is an injection used to stimulate the ovaries directly so that egg formation occurs. Repronex and Pergonal are two of the more popular medication brands.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog: Gn-RH is a medication often prescribed for women who don’t ovulate regularly. It acts on the pituitary gland to influence the timing of ovulation. It may purchased as a nasal spray or as an injectable.
- Follicle stimulating hormone: The FSH is also an injectable and acts on the ovaries to encourage ovulation. Some of the more popular brands are Follistim and Gonal-F.
- Metformin: Metformin is recommended for females who are either highly resistant to insulin or are diagnosed with PCOS. This medication, which is often taken with FSH or clomiphene, can help balance and regulate the male hormones in the female body and eventually assist women in the ovulation process.
- Bromocriptine: Prolactin is a type of hormone that helps mammary glands increase its milk production. Medium to high levels of prolactin may affect ovulation and cause it to stop. Bromocriptine acts directly on prolactin, slowing it down, so that ovulation can occur.
Multiple Birth Risk
While fertility medications are known to be very successful in helping a woman finally conceive, they also can lead to the formation and development of more than one fetus. Women carrying multiple fetuses experience more problems during pregnancy than their single fetus counterparts. More than one fetus in the womb raises the risk for the to born at lot earlier than their due…and a baby born prematurely has a higher risk of health issues going forward.
Fertility drugs can also cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a medical condition which has life threatening implications.
Due to the increased risks to health and the rising expense related to assisted reproductive therapies, alternative routes have become popular to combat infertility. These remedies cover a vast range from natural healing therapies which are meant to help the body repair itself. Some of the more popular alternative treatments include nutritional therapy, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.
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