I. A. & S. Natural Medicare International
I. A. & S. Natural Medicare International
WHAT IS FEMALE INFERTILITY ISSUES?
Infertility is defined as trying to get pregnant (with frequent intercourse) for at least a year with no success. Female infertility, male infertility or a combination of the two affects millions of couples . An estimated 10 to 18 percent of couples have trouble getting pregnant or having a successful delivery.
Infertility results from female factors about one-third of the time and male factors about one-third of the time. The cause is either unknown or a combination of male and female factors in the remaining cases.
Female infertility causes can be difficult to diagnose. There are many available treatments, which will depend on the cause of infertility. Many infertile couples will go on to conceive a child without treatment. After trying to get pregnant for two years, about 95 percent of couples successfully conceive.
The main symptom of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. A menstrual cycle that’s too long (35 days or more), too short (less than 21 days), irregular or absent can mean that you’re not ovulating. There may be no other outward signs or symptoms.
Each of these factors is essential to become pregnant:
You need to ovulate. To get pregnant, your ovaries must produce and release an egg, a process known as ovulation.
Your partner needs sperm. For most couples, this isn’t a problem unless your partner has a history of illness or surgery. You can run some simple tests to evaluate the health of your partner’s sperm.
You need to have regular intercourse. You need to have regular sexual intercourse during your fertile time. We can help you better understand when you’re most fertile.
You need to have open fallopian tubes and a normal uterus. The egg and sperm meet in the fallopian tubes, and the embryo needs a healthy uterus in which to grow.
For pregnancy to occur, every step of the human reproduction process has to happen correctly. The steps in this process are:
In women, a number of factors can disrupt this process at any step. Female infertility is caused by one or more of the factors below.
Ovulation disorders, meaning you ovulate infrequently or not at all, account for infertility in about 1 in 4 infertile couples. Problems with the regulation of reproductive hormones by the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, or problems in the ovary, can cause ovulation disorders.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).PCOS causes a hormone imbalance, which affects ovulation. PCOS is associated with insulin resistance and obesity, abnormal hair growth on the face or body, and acne. It’s the most common cause of female infertility.
Hypothalamic dysfunction.Two hormones produced by the pituitary gland are responsible for stimulating ovulation each month — (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Excess physical or emotional stress, a very high or very low body weight, or a recent substantial weight gain or loss can disrupt production of these hormones and affect ovulation. Irregular or absent periods are the most common signs.
Premature ovarian failure.Also called primary ovarian insufficiency, this disorder is usually caused by an autoimmune response or by premature loss of eggs from your ovary (possibly from genetics or chemotherapy). The ovary no longer produces eggs, and it lowers estrogen production in women under the age of 40.
Too much prolactin.The pituitary gland may cause excess production of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia), which reduces estrogen production and may cause infertility. Usually related to a pituitary gland problem, this can also be caused by medications you’re taking for another disease.
Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes keep sperm from getting to the egg or block the passage of the fertilized egg into the uterus. Causes of fallopian tube damage or blockage can include:
Endometriosis occurs when tissue that normally grows in the uterus implants and grows in other locations. This extra tissue growth — and the surgical removal of it — can cause scarring, which may block fallopian tubes and keep an egg and sperm from uniting.
Endometriosis can also affect the lining of the uterus, disrupting implantation of the fertilized egg. The condition also seems to affect fertility in less-direct ways, such as damage to the sperm or egg.
Several uterine or cervical causes can impact fertility by interfering with implantation or increasing the likelihood of a miscarriage:
Sometimes, the cause of infertility is never found. A combination of several minor factors in both partners could cause unexplained fertility problems. Although it’s frustrating to get no specific answer, this problem may correct itself with time. But, you shouldn’t delay treatment for infertility.
Certain factors may put you at higher risk of infertility, including:
Your Sincerely,
Dr. Ajibade,
B.Sc. Public Health & Alternative Medicine (Cameroon); Diploma in Naturopathy (USA); Diploma in Acupuncture (India & Sri Lanka); mLASTMB (Lagos), mNCPNM (Nigeria), mNANTMP (Nigeria), mACTMPWA(West Africa).
Medical Director,
08038690104
I. A. & S. Natural Medicare Int’l Ltd.