What Is Infertility?
Exposure To Some Chemicals – some pesticides, herbicides, metals (lead), and solvents has been linked to fertility problems in both men and women.
Mental Stress – studies indicate that female ovulation and sperm production may be affected by mental stress. If at least one partner is stressed, the frequency of sexual intercourse may be lower, resulting in a lower chance of conception.
Causes of infertility in women:
There are many possible causes of infertility. Unfortunately, in about one-third of cases, no cause is ever identified.
Ovulation disorders – Problems with ovulation are the most common cause of infertility in women, experts say. Ovulation is the monthly release of an egg. In some cases, the woman never releases eggs, while in others, she does not release eggs during certain cycles.
Ovulation disorders can be due to:
Premature ovarian failure – the woman’s ovaries stop working before she is 40.
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) – the woman’s ovaries function abnormally. She also has abnormally high levels of androgen. About five per cent to 10 per cent of women of reproductive age are affected to some degree and are also called Stein-Leventhal syndrome.
Hyperprolactinemia – if prolactin levels are high and the woman is not pregnant or breastfeeding, it may affect ovulation and fertility.
Poor egg quality – eggs that are damaged or develop genetic abnormalities cannot sustain a pregnancy. The older a woman is, the higher the risk.
Some chronic conditions, such as AIDS or cancer.
Scientists discover gene that may explain infertility
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh reported in the Journal of Cell Science that they identified a gene that controls a vital process in the formation of healthy, fertile eggs.
They say their breakthrough will help researchers better understand how cells divide during reproduction, which in turn will help explain low fertility and sterility.
Problems in the uterus or fallopian tubes
The egg travels from the ovary to the uterus (womb) where the fertilized egg grows. If there is something wrong in the uterus or the fallopian tubes, the woman may not be able to conceive naturally. This may be due to:
Surgery – pelvic surgery can sometimes cause scarring or damage to the fallopian tubes. Cervical surgery can sometimes cause scarring or shortening of the cervix. The cervix is the neck of the uterus.
Submucosal fibroids – benign or non-cancerous tumors found in the muscular wall of the uterus, occurring in 30 per cent to 40 per cent of women of childbearing age. They may interfere with implantation. They can also block the fallopian tube, preventing sperm from fertilizing the egg. Large submucosal uterine fibroids may make the uterus’ cavity bigger, increasing the distance the sperm has to travel.
Endometriosis – cells that are normally found within the lining of the uterus start growing elsewhere in the body.
Previous sterilization treatment – if a woman chose to have her fallopian tubes blocked. It is possible to reverse this process, but the chances of becoming fertile again are not high. However, an eight-year study showed that tubal reversal surgery results in higher pregnancy and live birth rates and is less costly than IVF.