Infertility Women Causes- Major Reasons for Female Fertility Issues
Female ovulation is an essential ingredient of success at conception. In short, a woman who has no means of producing an egg will have zero chance of conceiving. The main indicators of a possible ovulation problem are either absent or irregular monthly menstruation.
Medical Situations
Two common situations involving a woman’s ovulation are PCOS and POI. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is defined as a hormonal problem that interferes with the normal ovulation mechanism. It is the highest reported cause of infertility among females.
On the other hand, primary ovarian insufficiency, is a condition wherein the female’s ovaries cease to function properly before she turns 35 years old. POI is usually mistaken as early-stage menopause, a condition that is a lot different. Click here for info about issues related to treatment for pcos.
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
- Clogged Fallopian tubes due to ectopic pregnancy surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis
- Physical problems with the uterus
Click here for info about issues related to ovarian problems.
Factors That Increase Infertility Risks
Beyond problems with health, genetics and lifestyle habits can also lead to infertility among women. Including:
- Alcohol and smoking
- Poor diet
- Getting older
- Too much physical activity
- Stress at the workplace or home
- Under or overweight conditions
- Infections that are sexually transmitted
- Health issues that affect the body’s hormone producing abilities
Infertility Women Causes - The Age Factor
Many American women these days do not have children until their 30s and 40s…and a third of the total cases on infertility involve women who are over 35 years old.
How Does Age Affect Fertility?
- Ovaries weaken over time, and this affects their egg-releasing capacity
- Older ovaries make fewer eggs
- The eggs released as not as healthy as a those of a younger woman
- Health problems that may interfere with fertility creep up as the woman gets older
- Incidence of miscarriage increases with age
Click here for info about issues related to complex ovarian cysts.
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 its popular brand Clomid, an oral drug.
- Human menopausal gonadotropin: hMG is an injection used to stimulate the ovaries directly so that egg formation occurs. Pergonal and Repronex are just some of the popular brands.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog: Gn-RH is a medication often prescribed for women who don’t ovulate regularly. It works on the pituitary gland to dictate when ovulation happens. 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 women with either PCOS or insulin resistance. This drug, usually taken with FSH or clomiphene, is designed to balance out the male hormone levels in the female body and help women ovulate.
- Bromocriptine: Prolactin is a type of hormone that induces milk production in the mammary glands. 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 drugs can and often do succeed at helping women conceive, they can also result in the formation of multiple fetuses. Women who carry more than one fetus are prone to more pregnancy problems than those who carry just one. Multiple fetuses are also more inclined to be born premature…and an infant who’s been born premature has the greater chance of developing problems with health as he or she grows up.
Fertility drugs also have a high risk for a medical condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which can be life threatening.
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 range from natural treatments which are intended to assist the body in repairing itself. Popular natural treatments include acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and nutritional therapy.