Women Causes of Infertility – The Major Issues of Female Infertility
A woman’s ovulation is a essential component of conception. Simply put, if the female is unable to produce an egg, you can expect to have no baby. The main indicators of a possible ovulation problem are either absent or irregular monthly menstruation.
Female Conditions
Two of the more problematic conditions involving a woman ovulating are PCOS & POI. Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects the normal course of ovulation and is defined as a hormal problem. It is the highest reported cause of infertility among females.
On another note, primary ovarian insuffiency happens when the ovaries stop functioning properly even before a woman reaches 35. POI is often thought to be early menopause, which is a condition that is entirely different.
Related Causes
There are other uterine problems that also contribute to infertility.
– Uterual Fibroids (i.e. non-cancerous bumps on the uterine walls
– Clogged Fallopian tubes due to ectopic pregnancy surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis
– Physical problems with the uterus
Factors That Increase Infertility Risks
Besides problems with health, genetic and lifestyle factors can also influence infertility among women. These would include:
– Alcohol and smoking
– Poor diet
– Age creep
– Too much physical activity
– Stress at home or workplace
– Under or overweight conditions
– STIs
– Health issues that affect the body’s hormone producing abilities
Infertility Women Causes – The Age Factor
Often American women these days do not have children until their 30s and 40s…and a third of the total cases on infertility involve women who are over 35 years old.
What Makes Age Vital To The Fertility Issue?
– A woman’s ovaries weaken thru time affecting their capacity to release eggs
– Generally speaking, an older female will produce less eggs than when she was young
– The eggs released as not as healthy as a those of a younger woman
– Older women may experience healthy issues that interfere with her fertility
– Incidence of miscarriage increases with age
Stimulating Fertility with Drugs
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. Pergonal and Repronex are just some of the popular 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. You may buy either the injectable version or the nasal spray.
– 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 prescribed for women with either insulin resistance or PCOS. This drug, usually taken with FSH or clomiphene, is designed to balance out the male hormone levels in the female body and help women ovulate.
– Bromocriptine: Prolactin is a type of hormone that induces milk production in the mammary glands. Prolactin in sufficient levels causes ovulation to stop. Bromocriptine slows down prolactin release so ovulation can take place.
Multiple Birth Risk
While fertility drugs can and often do succeed at helping women conceive, they can also result in the formation of multiple fetuses. Women who carry more than one fetus are prone to more pregnancy problems than those who carry just one. Multiple fetuses in the womb are more likely to be born premature…and a baby born prematurely has a higher risk of health issues going forward.
Fertility drugs also have a high risk for a medical condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which can be life threatening.
Due to the increased risks to health and the rising expense related to assisted reproductive therapies, alternative routes have become popular to combat infertility. These remedies cover a vast range from natural healing therapies which are meant to help the body repair itself. Some of the common alternative therapies include Chinese medicine, acupuncture and nutrition-based treatments.
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