What Are The Causes Of Infertility In Women?

If you are a woman who is trying to become pregnant, it’s hard not to worry about infertility issues. Even if you just started trying, that thought might be in the back of your mind. If you don’t succeed in becoming pregnant right away, your small worry may begin to grow. The good news is that infertility in women is not as common as you might think. Your doctor won’t even consider that you might suffer from infertility until you’ve tried for more than a year to get pregnant; six months if you are older than 35.

Infertility in women does happen. Depending on your age, you will want to consult with your doctor to find out if you suffer from infertility and if pregnancy simply isn’t happening for you. First, understanding what infertility in women really means, how it is caused, and what symptoms to look out for are important.

What Causes Infertility?

There are a number of ways female infertility is caused, and different women suffer from different causes. One such cause is damage to your fallopian tubes. This can cause infertility because the fallopian tubes play an important role in the pregnancy process. When your body releases and egg and that egg is greeted by a sperm and fertilized, it takes a journey through your body by way of your fallopian tubes. The goal is to get through the fallopian tubes and into your uterus. Once the egg makes it into your uterus, it becomes implanted into your uterine wall and is then considered a viable pregnancy. If your fallopian tubes are damaged, your fertilized egg might not make it to the uterus, meaning your attempts to get pregnant will not work.

Hormonal issues in your body can cause ovulation problems. Ovulation problems can range from anything to not ovulating to not producing good eggs. Your hormonal issues could come from stress, illness, or disease. Another cause of female infertility is located in the cervix. A very small number of women have an issue with the mucus in their cervix, which prevents a man’s sperm from entering. Additionally, cancer and tumors might cause infertility.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Female Infertility?

The biggest sign of infertility, of course, is your inability to get pregnant. Obviously, this means nothing until you have been trying for a specific amount of time. Some women are fortunate enough to get pregnant on the first try, or the second try. However, most couples don’t get pregnant this easily, but they do become pregnant within the first year. What this means is that your lack of ability to conceive might not be indicative of infertility issues for a year or so.

Another sign of infertility is an abnormal menstrual cycle. The vast majority of women all have a different menstrual cycle. There is no real norm when it comes to menstruating. However, the typical length of a regular cycle is considered 28 days. Most women menstruate around the 28th day, though some are sooner and some are later. Women who have a menstrual cycle lasting fewer than 21 days or longer than 35 are more likely to suffer from infertility. You can determine the length of your menstrual cycle by counting from the first day of your period to the first day of your next period. Do this each month to see if your cycle is normal.

How is Infertility Treated?