Female Infertility - Why Does It Happen?
Women Causes of Infertility - The Major Causes of Female Infertility
A woman’s ability to ovulate is a key component of successful conception. In short, a woman who has no means of producing an egg will have zero chance of conceiving. The primary indicators of a potential problem with ovulation are either totally absent or intermittent monthly menstrual periods.
Female Conditions
Two of the more common medical conditions involving 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 another note, primary ovarian insuffiency happens when the ovaries stop functioning properly even before a woman reaches 35. POI is often mistaken to be early menopause, which is a different condition.
Other Related Causes
There are other uterine problems that also contribute to infertility.
- Uterual Fibroids (i.e. non-cancerous bumps on the uterine walls
- Congested Fallopian tubes because of ectopic pregnancy surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis
- Physical problems with the uterus
Factors That Increase Infertility Risks
Aside from problems with one’s health, genes and lifestyle factors can also contribute to female infertility. These would include:
- Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking
- Poor nutrition
- Getting older
- Too much physical activity
- Stress at the workplace or home
- Being underweight or overweight
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Health issues that affect the body’s hormone producing abilities
Infertility Women Causes - The Age Factor
Many working women often 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.
Why is Age a Key Factor to Fertility?
- A woman’s ovaries weaken thru time affecting their capacity to release eggs
- Older gals produce less eggs
- The eggs of an older woman are less healthy
- Older women may experience healthy issues that interfere with her fertility
- Incidence of miscarriage increases with age
Medication that Stimulates Fertility
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 acts on one’s pituitary gland and influences the timing of the ovulation process. 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 prescribed for women with either insulin resistance or 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 hormone that causes production of milk in the mammary glands. Sufficient levels of prolactin may cause a stop in ovulation. Bromocriptine directly acts on and slows down the release of prolactin so ovulation can happen.
Multiple Birth Risk
While fertility inducing drugs are highly successful at helping women have a baby, they also have a high chance of developing multiple fetuses. Women who have more than one fetus in their uterus have a higher risk of experience problems throughout the pregnancy compared to those with just one fetus. Multiple fetuses in the womb are more likely to be born premature…and a prematurely born infant is more prone to developing health problems at a later age.
Certain fertility drugs may lead to a syndrome called ovarian hyperstimulation, a illness that may be fatal.
Because of these health risks & the high cost of assisted reproductive technology, alternative methods have become popular for overcoming infertility without adverse side effects. 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.
Click here for more information on how to increase chances of pregnancy or how to conceive
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Tags: fertility, how to get pregnant, infertility, infertility solutions, women causes of infertility