Our fertility specialists test and treat female infertility
Female infertility results from an abnormality or disease of the female reproductive system that inhibits the ability to conceive and deliver a child. If you’re under 35 years old and have not conceived after a year of unprotected sex, or 6 months if you’re over 35, it’s time to get some answers.
Approximately 1 in 8 couples are affected by infertility and there are a number of factors, both male and female, that can cause the condition. In fact, in nearly 30% of cases the cause is attributed to the female, in 30% the cause is attributed to the male, in 30% the cause is attributed to both, and in 10% of cases the cause is unknown.
Many conditions can cause infertility
What causes female infertility? There may be one factor preventing a viable pregnancy, or there could be several. Once the cause of infertility has been determined, a plan can be customized for the patient to fit their unique situation and move them along on the path to conceiving a child. In fact, nearly 90% of infertility cases are treatable with medical therapies such as drug treatment, surgical repair of reproductive organs and assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization.
Maternal age is a significant cause of infertility
An unfortunate fact of life is that as a woman ages, her fertility gradually declines. Advanced maternal age is a common cause of female infertility since egg quality and quantity go down as women get older.
Some women experience female infertility because of ovulation dysfunction.
- PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a common endocrine disorder that may prevent the ovaries from regularly releasing healthy eggs. PCOS may also cause abnormal menstruation, weight gain, acne, dark skin patches and mood swings.
- Primary ovarian insufficiency occurs when the ovaries stop functioning before a woman turns 40.
- Extremely low body mass can cause women to stop menstruating and become temporarily infertile. This is typically found in athletes and women who exercise heavily.
Other times, uterine problems and fallopian tube abnormalities interfere with healthy fertility.
- Many women suffer from endometriosis, a condition in which a woman’s uterine lining flows backwards out the fallopian tubes and grows outside of her uterus. Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain and be a cause of infertility.
- Uterine fibroids are benign uterine tumors. Fibroids may cause infertility and they may also increase the risk of miscarriage.
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes can stop normal conception by preventing sperm from reaching the egg or even inhibit a fertilized egg from traveling to the uterus.
- An abnormally shaped uterus may also prevent a pregnancy.
Additionally, recurring miscarriages are more common than you may think.
It’s estimated that between 10 and 25% of pregnancies will result in miscarriage. While it is common, we understand how devastating it can feel to lose a pregnancy.
Recurring miscarriages may indicate an underlying problem. However, 60% of women who experience recurring miscarriages go on to have healthy pregnancies and births without further treatment.
Lifestyle habits can also impair female fertility.
Our lifestyle choices and the environment we live in can be major contributors to infertility. Our fertility specialists will discuss the risks of smoking, workplace toxins, excessive drinking and obesity to men and women trying to conceive.
A basic fertility evaluation can give you answers
Trying to conceive can be a real challenge and it can cause great anxiety and stress. At Fertility Answers we strive to give you real answers to your questions about the causes of female infertility and the targeted treatment options. When you first visit our fertility specialists, they will work to determine why you’ve had trouble getting pregnant.
If you’ve been trying to conceive for more than a year, or if you’re over 35 and have been trying for more than six months, it’s time to learn more about your fertility. Contact our fertility specialists for an initial consultation and basic fertility evaluation.
