Female Infertility – Why Does It Happen?
Women Causing Infertility- The Major Issues of Female Infertility
The female’s ovulation capability is a vital component of conception success. Put simply, a woman who cannot produce an egg will have no chance of having a baby. The primary signs of a problem with ovulation are intermittent or absent monthly menstrual periods.
Medical Conditions
Two of the more common medical conditions involving ovulation are PCOS and POI. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, a hormonal problem, can affect the normal action of the ovulation process. It is reportedly the highest cause of infertility in women.
On another note, primary ovarian insuffiency happens when the ovaries stop functioning properly even before a woman reaches 35. POI is usually mistaken as early-stage menopause, a condition that is a lot different. Click here for info about issues related to treatment for pcos.
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
- Congested Fallopian tubes due to ectopic pregnancy surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis
- Physical issues with the uterus
Click here for info about issues related to ovarian problems.
Factors That Increase Infertility Risks
Besides problems with health, genetic and lifestyle factors can also influence infertility among women. Inclusive of:
- Alcohol and smoking
- Poor diet
- Age
- Too much physical activity
- Stress at the workplace or home
- Overweight or underweight conditions
- Sexually related diseases
- Health issues that affect the body’s hormone producing abilities
Infertility Women Causes - The Age Factor
Many working women these days 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?
- Ovaries deteriorate over time, and this affects their egg-releasing capability
- Generally speaking, an older female will produce less eggs than when she was young
- Eggs released by an older woman are not as potent
- Older women may experience healthy issues that interfere with her fertility
- There is a higher incidence of miscarriage in older women
Click here for info about issues related to complex ovarian cysts.
Drugs To Stimulate 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 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 works on the pituitary gland to dictate when ovulation happens. 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. Popular brands are Gonal-F and Follistim.
- Metformin: Metformin is recommended for females who are either highly resistant to insulin or are diagnosed with PCOS. This drug, often taken simultaneously with clomiphene or FSH, is designed to regulate male hormones levels in women and cause them to ovulate.
- Bromocriptine: Prolactin is a hormone that helps start and increase milk productin in one’s mammary glands. Prolactin in sufficient levels causes ovulation to stop. Bromocriptine acts directly on prolactin, slowing it down, so that ovulation can occur.
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. Females with multiple fetuses have the higher risk of developing pregnancy problems than women who carry a single fetus. More than one fetus in the womb increases the risk for premature birth…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 can also cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a medical condition which has life threatening implications.
Due to the increased risks to health and the rising expense related to assisted reproductive therapies, alternative routes have become popular to combat infertility. Such remedies cover a wide range of natural treatments that are meant to assist body healing. Some of the more widely used types of alternative treatments include nutrition-based therapies, Chinese medicine, and acupuncture.
