Infertility is a condition that affects millions of women across the world. Approximately 10 to 18% of couples have trouble getting pregnant or having a successful delivery. There are many factors that can result in infertility in women.
Female infertility can be difficult to diagnose because the causes can be known or unknown. But there are many available treatments which will depend on the cause of fertility. The following are some of the causes of infertility in women;
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCOS is a hormone imbalance that can disrupt the menstrual and ovulation cycles. It is the most common cause of infertility because no ovulation or egg is released. The name of this condition is derived at because of the presence of some tiny cysts on the outside of the ovaries.
However, many women have polycystic ovaries, but not all of them have the polycystic ovarian syndrome. Women with PCOS have other symptoms like irregular periods, excess weight [especially in the tummy area] excess air on the face and body, and acne. It is estimated that about 30% of women who suffer PCOS are infertile.
- Aging
Age also contributes to a woman’s fertility. Women are born with a fixed number of eggs which decline as they age. A woman’s fertility starts to decline when she is in her early 30s and by the time she reaches 35, it has dropped by 40%. By the time she hit age 40, a woman’s fertility has declined further.
But there is lack of recognition of the impact that the age has on fertility because there are women who can have babies in their 40s. There are also other women who can have babies through In Vitro Fertilization [IVF] treatment. The IVF services are available in clinics such as ivf Singapore.
- Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus [endometrial tissue] grows in other parts of the body. The endometrial tissue bleed just the same as the lining of the uterus, except that the tissue or the blood is trapped causing irritation and inflammation.
The common symptoms of endometriosis are pelvic/abdominal pain and period pain. Endometriosis can affect fertility by damaging the ovaries so that ovulation cannot occur. A damage or a blockage to the inside of the fallopian tubes can hinder the journey of the egg to the uterus.
Endometriosis can also have an impact on the lining of the uterus, affecting the implantation of a fertilized egg.
- Weight
A woman’s weight can have an impact on her fertility. Women who are underweight can experience irregular menstrual cycles and issues with ovulation. At the same time, being overweight or obese can also affect the normal menstruation and ovulation.
Overweight and obese women are exposed to a higher risk of miscarriage and other pregnancy complications. Obese women should try and lose as little as 5% of their body weight, this is enough to restore a regular menstrual cycle and ovulation.
- Uterine abnormalities
Fibroids can interfere with the implantation of the fertilized egg. Fibroids are masses of muscular tissue and collagen that can that can develop within the wall of the uterus. Fibroids can affect your fertility depending on the number of the fibroids that you have, their size, and their location in your uterus.
