If you and your husband have been having regular unprotected sex in a course of 12 months (less if you’re over 35) and still not pregnant, you may start to wonder if you are having fertility problems. Don’t let this be the cause of your frustrations or depressions as you will be happy to know that many infertility problems are vastly treated. Here are some causes of infertility and their typical treatments:
Ovulation Problems
This includes any hormonal condition that prevents the release of a mature egg from an ovary. Symptoms of this include absent or infrequent periods paired with light or excessively heavy bleeding. Lifestyle changes, mild hormonal changes, or ovulation-stimulating drugs may be suggested.
Endometriosis
This condition is when endometrial tissue (the uterine lining that sheds with each period) grows outside the uterus. This is an important factor in infertility as it can cause ovulation problems or worse, tubal blockages. Symptoms include deep pain during penetrative sex, painful periods, painful urination or bowel motions during menstruation, and chronic pelvic pain. If you think that these symptoms may be related to you, see your physician.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
This condition is caused by a hormonal imbalance that disrupts ovulation. The ovaries, instead of ripening and maturing one egg each cycle, develop many small cysts instead. Symptoms include excessive hair growth, acne, irregular menstrual periods and weight gain. This problem might be solved through changes in diet and lifestyle (if a female is overweight).
Poor Egg Quality
Damaged eggs or those that develop chromosomal abnormalities cannot sustain a pregnancy. This is usually an age-related problem as the quality of an egg decreases significantly in the late 30s and early 40s. Possible symptoms include miscarriages and difficulty in conception.
Blocked Tubes
Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes prevent sperm from getting to the egg and eggs from getting to the uterus. Leading causes of this condition include sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia, pelvic inflammatory disease, and previous sterilization surgery.
To help you understand the different treatment options, you should discuss it with your doctor.
