Facts You Must Know About Female Infertility
Causes of fallopian tube damage or blockage can include:
• Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes due to chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted infections
• Previous surgery in the abdomen or pelvis, including surgery for ectopic pregnancy, in which a fertilised egg implants and develops in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus
• Pelvic tuberculosis, a major cause of tubal infertility worldwide, although uncommon in many places.
Endometriosis
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 the 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.
Uterine or cervical causes
Several uterine or cervical causes can impact fertility by interfering with implantation or increasing the likelihood of a miscarriage:
Benign polyps or tumours (fibroids or myomas) are common in the uterus. Some can block fallopian tubes or interfere with implantation, affecting fertility.
However, many women who have fibroids or polyps do become pregnant.
Endometriosis scarring or inflammation within the uterus can disrupt implantation.
Uterine abnormalities present from birth, such as an abnormally shaped uterus, can cause problems with becoming or remaining pregnant.
Cervical stenosis, a narrowing of the cervix, can be caused by an inherited malformation or damage to the cervix.
Sometimes the cervix can’t produce the best type of mucus to allow the sperm to travel through the cervix into the uterus.
Unexplained infertility
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 infertility treatment.
Factors that cause a higher risk of infertility
Age: The quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs begin to decline with increasing age. In the mid-30s, the rate of follicle loss speeds up, resulting in fewer and poorer quality eggs.
This makes conception more difficult and increases the risk of miscarriage.
Smoking: Besides damaging your cervix and fallopian tubes, smoking increases your risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
It’s also thought to age your ovaries and deplete your eggs prematurely. Stop smoking before beginning fertility treatment.
Weight: Being overweight or significantly underweight may affect normal ovulation. Getting to a healthy body mass index (BMI) may increase the frequency of ovulation and the likelihood of pregnancy.
Sexual history: Sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can damage the fallopian tubes.
Having unprotected intercourse with multiple partners increases your risk of a sexually transmitted infection that may cause fertility problems later.
Alcohol: Stick to moderate alcohol consumption of no more than one alcoholic drink per day.
Prevention
For women thinking about getting pregnant soon or in the future, these tips may help optimise fertility:
• Maintain a normal weight. Overweight and underweight women are at increased risk of ovulation disorders.
If you need to lose weight, exercise moderately. Strenuous, intense exercise of more than five hours a week has been associated with decreased ovulation.
• Quit smoking. Tobacco has multiple negative effects on fertility, not to mention your general health and the health of a fetus. If you smoke and are considering pregnancy, quit now.
• Avoid alcohol. Heavy alcohol use may lead to decreased fertility. And any alcohol use can affect the health of a developing fetus.
• If you are planning to become pregnant, avoid alcohol, and do not drink alcohol while you are pregnant.
• Reduce stress. Some studies have shown that couples experiencing psychological stress had poorer results with infertility treatment.
If you can, find a way to reduce stress in your life before trying to become pregnant.
• Limit caffeine. Research suggests that limiting caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams a day should not affect your ability to get pregnant. That is about one to two cups of six to eight ounces of coffee per day.