Female Infertility – Why Does It Happen?
02.21.10
Infertility Women Causes – The Major Causes of Female Infertility
The female’s ovulation capability is a vital component of conception success. To make it simple, a female who does not produce an egg can have no baby. The primary signs of a problem with ovulation are intermittent or absent monthly menstrual periods.
Female Conditions
Two common situations involving a woman’s ovulation are PCOS and POI. Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects the normal course of ovulation and is defined as a hormal problem. It is the highest reported cause of infertility among females.
Primary ovarian insufficiency can also happen; it’s a condition when the proper functioning of the ovaries fail before the female turns 35 years of age. 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.
- 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 issues with the uterus
Factors That Increase Infertility Risks
Aside from health problems, lifestyle and genetic elements can also cause infertility in women. Inclusive of:
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Poor nutrition
- Age
- Too much physical activity
- Stress at home or workplace
- Overweight or underweight 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 nowadays do not have children until their 30s and 40s…and one third of all fertility issues involve the female being 35 years or older.
What Makes Age Vital To The Fertility Issue?
- Ovaries weaken with time & this affects their capacity to release eggs
- Older ovaries make fewer eggs
- The eggs of an older woman are less healthy
- Health problems that may interfere with fertility creep up as the woman gets older
- Incidence of miscarriage increases with age
Fertility Stimulating Medications
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 the brand Clomid, which is ingested orally.
- Human menopausal gonadotropin: hMG is an injection used to stimulate the ovaries directly so that egg formation occurs. Popular names include Pergonal and Repronex.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog: Gn-RH is a medication often prescribed for women who don’t ovulate regularly. It affects the pituitary gland to alter the timing and process of ovulation. It can be purchased either as a nasal spray or in injection form.
- Follicle stimulating hormone: The FSH is also an injectable and acts on the ovaries to encourage ovulation. Common brands are Follistim and Gonal-F.
- Metformin: Metformin is recommended for women with either PCOS or insulin resistance. This drug, which is usually taken with FSH or clomiphene, is built to help balance male hormonal levels in females and help them 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 can slow down the release of prolactin and help make ovulation happen.
Multiple Birth Risk
While fertility medications are known to be very successful in helping a woman finally conceive, they also can lead to the formation and development of more than one fetus. Females with multiple fetuses have the higher risk of developing pregnancy problems than women who carry a single fetus. Multiple fetuses in the womb are more likely 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 rising cost of assisted reproductive technology and increased health risks, alternative methods have been the route of choice to address infertility problems minus the side effects. These remedies cover a vast range from natural healing therapies which are meant to help the body repair itself. Some of the more widely used types of alternative treatments include nutrition-based therapies, Chinese medicine, and acupuncture.
Click here for more information on how to increase your chances of pregnancy or how to conceive a baby
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