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What Causes Infertility in Women?

Fertility issues may affect both men and women. Both spouses suffer from hormonal problems in roughly 20% of infertile marriages. After all the tests, around 15% of couples had no reason. This is referred to as unexplained infertility.

Read this post to learn more about women's symptoms, causes, and treatment of infertility.

Symptoms of Infertility in Women

The inability to get pregnant is one of the most common infertility symptoms. If your menstrual cycle is excessively lengthy (35 days or more), too short (less than 21 days), absent, or irregular, you may not be ovulating. There could be no other signs or symptoms.

If you have a medical history of painful or irregular periods, pelvic inflammatory disease, cancer treatment, or endometriosis, your doctor may want to start testing or treatment immediately.

What Causes Female Infertility?

Increased uterine tissue and pelvic inflammatory diseases may cause infertility in women. Uterus or fallopian tubes structure or irregular spermatisation might cause fertility problems. Signs of infertility in women may include:

Painful, Long, or Heavy Periods

Some women have light periods, while others have heavy ones with painful cramps.

Women with heavy, painful periods may have endometriosis, a disorder where uterine tissues grow elsewhere in the body. Endometriosis causes infertility.

Endometriosis causes:

• Pain during sex

• Fatigue

• Spotting and irregular periods

• Back pain

• Nausea

• Bowel problems

Irregular Menstrual Cycle

Menstrual cycle duration varies by person and time. Many individuals have a regular cycle with nearly the same time between periods. PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), obesity, thyroid disorders, and being underweight may cause irregular periods.

Underlying Health Conditions

Other variables that may affect fertility in women include:

• Premature menopause

• Endometriosis

• Ovaries or fallopian tubes damage

• PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)

• Cancer and its treatments

Not Being Able to Get Pregnant

A doctor may diagnose infertility if a female is beyond the age of 35 and has not conceived after 6 months of trying.

Painful Sex

Pain during sex, also known as dyspareunia, might indicate an underlying health concern that can affect a woman's ovulation.

Pale or Dark Menstrual Blood

Paler menstrual blood may be problematic. Menstrual blood is bright red at the start of a period and may darken with time.

Endometriosis may also be indicated by dark, old blood at the start of menstruation. If you have any symptoms, see a doctor.

Hormonal Imbalances or Changes

Hormonal changes may induce nonspecific symptoms, and individuals may not notice or understand the underlying reason. A doctor may test for some hormonal problems.

Hormone fluctuations may result in:

• Severe acne

• Reduced sexual desire or sex drive

• Female facial hair

• Unexplained increased weight

• Cold hands and feet

• Nipple discharge

Obesity

According to 2018 research, obesity may have a damaging effect on reproductive health.

Obese women have a reduced chance of conceiving and are more likely to have pregnancy complications than non-obese women.

Common Signs of Male Infertility

Because the testes are where a man's sperm is stored, testicle health is crucial to male fertility. Infertile men may experience the following symptoms:

• Sexual desire changes

• Testicle swelling or pain

• Problems maintaining an erection

• Ejaculation issues

• Small or firm testicles

Order our Male Fertility Test here, or learn more about male fertility on our information page here.

Infertility Treatment

Current ovulation disorders or infertility issues won't prevent you from having a family. Infertile couples often conceive. The following treatments tackle distinct causes of female infertility:

• Surgical procedures: These surgeries fix uterus and fallopian tubes blockages. Due to the effectiveness of alternative infertility treatments, surgery is seldom performed.

• In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF): It is the most effective assisted reproductive treatment. A mature mother's egg is fertilised in a lab with sperm. The fertilised egg is returned to the uterus. This approach takes weeks and requires daily hormone injections for implantation.

• Fertility drugs: These medications address ovulation disorders by boosting the reproductive hormones for egg maturation and release. Fertility medicines may cause ovarian hyperstimulation or tumours.

• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): Doctors may also suggest IUI. Millions of healthy sperm are injected during ovulation.

Conclusion

To learn more about Female Fertility, view our information page by clicking here. Or if you would like to learn about a wide range of fertility concerns, visit our Fertility Health Hub here.

If you would like to order a Female Fertility at-home test, order here.