Infertility is defined, as women who are unable to get pregnant, or men who are unable to impregnate a woman despite repeated attempts for at least one year. It is important to remember that we are referring to women who are of normal childbearing age and not those who can’t get pregnant because they are near or past menopause.
There isn’t just one overall reason for female infertility — there are many common causes. Thankfully, great strides have been made in medical technology and now the majority of infertility causes can be treated. Once the problem is diagnosed and corrected, many women can go on to experience a viable pregnancy. It’s helpful to know a few of the most common infertility causes.
One of the most common causes of infertility in women is fibroids. Fibroids are benign tumors usually found inside the uterus, but sometimes they can grow in other places. They can grow outside the uterus, underneath the uterine wall or at the cervix. Depending on their size and location, fibroids can delay or prevent pregnancy.
If the fibroids are inside the uterus and become large enough, they can cause extremely heavy monthly periods. One woman began to hemorrhage because of uterine fibroids and had to have an emergency hysterectomy to stop the bleeding.
Fibroids cause anemia and anemia can cause infertility as well. If you have heavy monthly cycles, get checked for fibroids and have the doctor check your iron count as well.
Fibroids can grow so large that they can cause the uterus to extend and appear anywhere from the size of a six week to a few months pregnancy. Fibroids may be treated with medications or surgery, depending on the severity of the problem.
Another cause of infertility is endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which the uterine tissue grows in areas where it shouldn’t rather than in the uterus lining. If endometriosis is severe enough, it can cause scarring. Endometriosis can be treated with hormone therapy or surgery if needed, to remove scarring.
Having diabetes can cause infertility. Some studies suggest that the cause of infertility in overweight diabetic women is a direct result of being overweight while others suggest it is due to the overall health risks associated with too much weight gain. However, poor control of blood sugar levels does raise the risk of miscarriage.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (also known as PCOS) can also cause infertility. Two of the widely known symptoms of PCOS are noticeable facial or body hair and monthly periods that are not regular.
This condition can be diagnosed by having an ultrasound done or by having bloodwork drawn and the blood tested for too much androgen. Androgen is the hormone that makes a man look like a man.
For example, growth of coarse facial hair and hair growth on the back are part of the effects of androgen hormone associated with men. This condition can also lead to insulin resistance, weight gain and type II diabetes, which is why it’s important to catch it early and get treatment.
Female infertility may also be caused by too much caffeine, medication or by thyroid malfunction. Get a check up done to see if one of these reasons is the cause of infertility.
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