There are many reasons why a woman may not be able to conceive. Some of these reasons are treatable, while others may indicate that you cannot conceive in the future.
From the physical, emotional, environmental, and social factors that can affect fertility, it is important for women to know what these are so they can continue with their family planning goals. The following article will cover six of the most common signs of infertility in women and some treatments you might want to consider if any of them apply to you.
Irregular Menstrual Cycles
There are many different reasons that can cause irregular menstrual cycles, but when they happen on a consistent basis, it might indicate that you have trouble ovulating. Which in turn is an indication that you may have trouble conceiving because your body is not releasing an egg during ovulation.
If this is the case, talk to your doctor about possible treatments such as fertility drugs like Clomid or Femara or therapy to help induce ovulation. Your doctor might also suggest checking for any potential health issues that could be the cause of irregular periods and making appropriate lifestyle changes. These medications will help stimulate your ovaries and increase the chances of you releasing more than one egg during a single menstrual cycle.
Cancer Treatments
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can damage your ovaries, which could make it harder for you to conceive. If this has been a problem in the past and you want to become pregnant, then consider talking to your doctor about freezing some of your eggs or embryos before beginning cancer treatments.
That way you will have some viable options if the chemotherapy or radiation therapy damages your ovaries to the point of infertility. Even if your doctor doesn’t recommend it, many women are successfully freezing eggs for use in future pregnancies or you can be an egg donor recipient. If you are experiencing any of these signs, talk with your doctor today to get a better understanding of how to alleviate them and improve your chances of conceiving.
Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in the uterus and they’re not regular stomach aches. They can sometimes cause discomfort and heavy bleeding, which might mean that you have trouble conceiving. Other symptoms of uterine fibroids include menstrual cramping and lower back pain.
If you have been diagnosed with this type of tumor, surgery may help to improve your chances of becoming pregnant. In women who are unable to conceive due to a large number of fibroids or if the tumors cause extreme discomfort, fertility treatments may be another option.
In most cases, your doctor will want you to use birth control as a treatment for uterine fibroids because pregnancy could make the tumor bigger and increase the problems associated with it.
Light or Heavy Bleeding and Cramps
Women who suffer from heavy and/or prolonged menstrual bleeding may suffer from anemia, which can affect their fertility. Anemia is a lack of red blood cells that makes it difficult for the body to distribute oxygenated blood throughout the body. Women who have this condition might also experience fatigue and dizziness, which could make it hard for them to keep up with their regular activities like work or exercise.
And in turn, make it harder to become pregnant because you need to be healthy in order to conceive. If you do not already know if you have anemia, your doctor will run some tests and prescribe iron pills or other supplements that might help alleviate symptoms and improve your chances of conceiving.
History of STIs or Sexual Dysfunction
If you suffer from a sexually transmitted infection or have experienced sexual dysfunction in the past, then you might want to consider treatments for both conditions.
Sexually transmitted infections can affect your fertility by making it harder to conceive and increasing your chances of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriages. So if this is something that has affected you in the past, it might be time to get checked out by your doctor and consider some form of treatment like antibiotics or antiviral medications. Your doctor may also want to run some tests to make sure there are no other fertility issues such as endometriosis (abnormal growth of tissue outside the uterus).
Talk about any concerns that you might have related to infertility with your doctor because there are treatments available that may help to improve your chances of conceiving and give you a healthy pregnancy
High Temperatures and Substances in the Environment
Increased body temperature can interfere with sperm counts, which means that it could affect your fertility as well. So if you have been experiencing hot flashes or night sweats, then now might be a good time to talk with your doctor about options for reducing the temperature range and increasing the chances of conceiving.
Because the increased body temperature can damage sperm, it is important to maintain a normal body temperature. If you are not sure if your body temperature has been fluctuating, talk with your doctor about the appropriate tests that will help to determine whether you have fertility issues related to high temperatures in the body or reduced sperm counts.
Exposure to certain substances in the environment can cause toxicity, which can affect your fertility by damaging your reproductive system. So if you work with hazardous materials or have been exposed to them in the past, then it might be time to see a specialist about potential treatment options.
That way you will know what issues you might be up against and how to treat them. Be aware of any substances that you come into contact with and talk with your doctor about all of the risks associated with working around these chemicals and whether there are ways that you could reduce your exposure levels and protect yourself from infertility problems like damage to sperm counts or ovarian toxins.
If you are experiencing any of these signs, talk with your doctor today to get a better understanding of how to alleviate them and improve your chances of conceiving. If all the treatments seem overwhelming or confusing, remember you’re not alone in this. Go on this journey with people who care about you.
