Female Infertility - Why Does It Happen?
28th February 2010 by Babies No CommentsWomen Causes of Infertility - Reasons for Female Infertility
The female’s ovulation capability is a vital component of conception success. To make it simple, a female who does not produce an egg can have no baby. The main indicators of a possible ovulation problem are either absent or irregular monthly menstruation.
Medical Situations
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 the highest recorded cause of female infertility.
Primary ovarian insufficiency, on the other hand, occurs when the woman’s ovaries fail to functioning like they should before she becomes 35 years old. POI is usually mistaken as early-stage menopause, a condition that is a lot different.
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 caused by ectopic pregnancy surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis
- Physical issues with the uterus
Factors That Increase Infertility Risks
Aside from problems with one’s health, genes and lifestyle factors can also contribute to female infertility. These would include:
- Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking
- Poor diet
- Age creep
- Too much physical activity
- Excessive stress
- Overweight or underweight conditions
- Sexually transmitted infections
- 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 one third of all fertility issues involve the female being 35 years or older.
Why is Age a Key Factor to Fertility?
- Ovaries weaken over time, and this affects their egg-releasing capacity
- An older woman produces fewer eggs
- Eggs released by an older woman are not as potent
- Older women may experience healthy issues that interfere with her fertility
- The incidence of miscarriage in older women is higher
Fertility Stimulating Medications
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. Repronex and Pergonal are two of the more popular medication brands.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog: Gn-RH is a medication often prescribed for women who don’t ovulate regularly. It affects the pituitary gland to alter the timing and process of ovulation. It is available as an injectable or nasal spray form.
- Follicle stimulating hormone: The FSH is also an injectable and acts on the ovaries to encourage ovulation. Some of the more popular brands are Follistim and Gonal-F.
- Metformin: Metformin is given to women who are either resistant to insulin or have 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 type of hormone that induces milk production in the mammary glands. Medium to high levels of prolactin may affect ovulation and cause it to stop. Bromocriptine can slow down the release of prolactin and help make ovulation happen.
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. Women who carry more than one fetus are prone to more pregnancy problems than those who carry just one. More than one fetus in the womb raises the risk for the to born at lot earlier than their due…and a prematurely born infant is more prone to developing health problems at a later age.
Certain fertility drugs may lead to a syndrome called ovarian hyperstimulation, a illness that may be fatal.
Due to the rising cost of assisted reproductive technology and increased health risks, alternative methods have been the route of choice to address infertility problems minus the side effects. These remedies cover a range from natural treatments which are intended to assist the body in repairing itself. Some of the more widely used types of alternative treatments include nutrition-based therapies, Chinese medicine, and acupuncture.
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