From monitoring your basal body temperature to tracking your ovulation, you have been trying to increase your chances of getting pregnant. But it hasn’t happened yet, and you keep asking yourself, “Why can’t I get pregnant?” or “Why can’t I get my partner pregnant?”
If getting pregnant takes longer than expected, do not worry. While some couples get pregnant within a few months of trying, others can take longer. You might be wondering if you are experiencing infertility. You should consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
In this blog, we will talk about what infertility is, its symptoms, the causes of female infertility and how you can cope with it.
A] Symptoms of Infertility in Women
1. Irregular Menstrual Cycles
A regular menstrual cycle is often a sign of a healthy reproductive system. However, if your periods are irregular—coming unexpectedly, missing months, or differing cycle length then this can be a sign of problems associated with ovulation. Irregular cycles can disrupt the body’s natural rhythm and thus challenge the ability to get pregnant. Keep track of your cycle and seek medical attention if irregularities persist.
2. Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones play an important role in your reproductive health. Some of the signs associated with hormonal imbalance are unexplained weight gain, chronic fatigue, mood swings, or hot flashes. These imbalances can affect your menstrual cycle and ovulation, making it difficult to conceive and causing infertility in females.
3. Painful or Heavy Periods
Another reason for infertility in women could be heavy periods. While some discomfort during menstruation is normal, very painful and heavy bleeding should not be ignored. These symptoms can be a sign of conditions like endometriosis and fibroids, which can severely impact fertility. If you regularly have very painful periods with heavy blood loss, you should contact your healthcare provider at once.
4. Weight Changes
A sudden weight change could be indicative of fertility problems, as both weight gain and loss affect hormone production and ovulation, therefore causing female infertility. One must maintain a healthy weight for optimum reproductive health so that it can be easier to get pregnant.
5. Other Symptoms
Apart from the obvious signs, physical changes such as hair loss or excessive hair growth on the face and body and constant acne could also indicate fertility-related hormonal imbalances. While these symptoms may seem unrelated to fertility, they sometimes could turn into characteristic markers of some underlying reproductive health issue.
B] Common Causes of Infertility in Women
1. Ovulation Disorders
Ovulatory disorders are the most common cause of infertility in women. There can be absent or infrequent ovulation that can prevent women from getting pregnant. This occurs if a woman has:
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: In women with PCOS, there is excess production of androgen, which is the male hormone, causing an imbalance in female hormones and preventing the regular release of eggs from the ovaries. PCOS is a leading cause of female infertility.
- Hypothalamic Dysfunction: The hypothalamus produces GnRH hormone that regulates the hormones responsible for follicular growth and ovulation, i.e. follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH). Any dysfunction in the hypothalamus can affect these hormones, ultimately affecting ovulation and causing female infertility.
- High Prolactin Levels: High levels of prolactin hormones produced from the pituitary glands can suppress GnRH hormones, leading to diminished FSH and LH, which can affect ovulation.
2. Fallopian Tube Damage
The fallopian tube is the most delicate organ of the female reproductive system and is responsible for transporting eggs and sperm towards each other. Fertilisation occurs in the fallopian tube, and any previous infection, tuberculosis, or open surgeries can lead to damaged or blocked fallopian tubes. This prevents the sperm from travelling through the tubes and the fertilised embryo from reaching the uterus. If you are facing any female-related fertility issues, At Dr. Hrishikesh Pai’s clinic, we offer female infertility treatment in Mumbai.
3. Endometriosis
Another symptom of infertility in women is endometriosis. There is a tissue known as endometrium on the inside of the uterus. Throughout the month, the lining gets thicker and is the thickest right before ovulation. A female with endometriosis has abnormal tissue growth outside the uterus, and it also thickens before ovulation and during menstruation. This swollen tissue may block the fallopian tubes or grow into the ovaries, making it more difficult for a person to get pregnant. This does not mean that individuals with endometriosis can not get pregnant; instead, it means that it would be challenging to get pregnant.
4. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
It is a condition that occurs when a person’s ovaries fail earlier than average. The usual age for egg production to stop, known as menopause, is around 51. For some people, POI happens abruptly, and they suddenly stop having a regular menstrual period. POI is different from premature menopause. With premature menopause, your periods stop before 40, and you can no longer get pregnant. With POI, women might still have occasional periods and may even get pregnant.
5. Uterine or Cervical Abnormalities
Uterine abnormalities are structural variations in the uterus, which include malformations, adhesions and fibroids. Cervical abnormalities refer to issues related to the uterus’s opening, including cervical stenosis and cervical mucus problems. These abnormalities can interfere with the implantation of the fertilised egg or the ability of the sperm to reach the egg.
C] Treatment Options for Female Infertility
1. Medications and Hormone Treatment
Medications are primarily given to induce ovulation or to correct hormonal imbalances. Common treatments include Clomiphene Citrate and Gonadotropins, which help regulate the menstrual cycle and promote the release of eggs. Hormone treatments may help with conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, thereby enhancing fertility.
2. Surgical Interventions
Some women may need surgical procedures to overcome physical problems in the body that may be interfering with fertility. Laparoscopy can clean up blockages in the fallopian tubes, treat endometriosis, and remove fibroids. Such interventions can potentially restore reproductive function and increase a woman’s chance of conceiving naturally.
3. IUI and IVF
Intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilisation are the two most important assisted reproductive technologies. Through IUI, artificial insemination is done directly in the uterus for the sperm to meet the ovum and initiate fertilisation. On the other hand, IVF is the process of fertilising the ovum outside the body and then implanting it in the uterus. If you want to try IVF, seek an experienced IVF doctor in Mumbai, like Dr. Pai, who can provide you with expertise in achieving a successful pregnancy outcome.
4. Lifestyle Changes
Making healthy lifestyle choices can also play a significant role in enhancing fertility. A balanced diet coupled with regular exercise and stress reduction can help improve reproductive health and support other fertility treatments.
Conclusion
Infertility can be a challenging and emotional journey, but understanding the symptoms, causes, and treatment options is the first step toward taking control of your reproductive health. Whether you have just started or have been trying for a while to get pregnant, it is important to seek professional guidance to decide the best course of action for your infertility treatment.
At Dr. Hrishikesh Pai’s clinic, all our fertility treatments, including IVF, are custom-made to suit the needs of each case. Our dedicated team is here to help you through your decisions. Feel free to reach out to us if you have been facing problems in conceiving. Schedule an appointment today, and let us help you take the next step towards parenthood.
