Infertility is a reproductive problem that makes it difficult or impossible for sexually active women to get pregnant even after having unprotected sex for at least a year. The types of infertility include primary and secondary infertility. An infertility specialist can help diagnose your problem, determine its cause, and tailor your treatment plan to suit your needs. Here are a few common risk factors that cause women to develop this problem:
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a reproductive condition caused by tissue resembling the uterine wall growing outside the uterus. A small part of the endometriosis tissue is shed every time the patient undergoes menstruation, making the periods painful.
As the tissue is shed, scars and potential inflammations develop. Because of these problems, irritations and adhesions occur, making other activities like sex, urination, and bowel movements painful.
When endometriosis isn’t detected early, ovarian cysts may develop, which also make menstruation and sex painful. This condition causes infertility after the endometrial tissue implants on the oviduct and ovaries. The adhesions and scar tissues that result from endometriosis can also block the oviduct, hindering the ova from reaching it for fertilization.
They may also block the sperm from reaching the ova during sex. Other than painful sex and periods, you can visit an infertility specialist if you experience irregular periods, excessive menstrual bleeding, nausea, bloating, and diarrhea.
Ovulation Disorders
Ovulation disorders cause infertility by altering how the ovaries produce eggs, decreasing egg quality or quantity. Anovulation and oligoovulation are the types of disorders that interfere with normal ovulation cycles. These disorders cause ovulation cycles to become irregular or stop the ovulation process from occurring. Ovulation disorders can cause imbalanced progesterone and estrogen levels, interfering with menstruation and how the eggs are produced.
Untreated ovulation disorders may cause the ovaries of women to stop functioning before they reach menopause. Some causes of these disorders include luteal phase defects, ovarian tumors, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and hypothalamic dysfunction. A fertility doctor may advise you to adopt lifestyle changes like weight management or offer medication or surgical treatments depending on your disorder’s severity.
Fallopian Tube Blockage
Fallopian tubes get blocked by several conditions, and one of them is pelvic inflammatory disease. The condition is a bacterial infection, where the bacteria cause the oviduct to swell and become narrower in size. Bacteria from pelvic inflammatory disease may also stimulate the membrane in the fallopian tube to secrete excess fluid that can cause blockage and hinder eggs from getting fertilized. Visiting an infertility doctor if you experience pain in your belly or pelvis allows you to undergo diagnoses like laparoscopy, X-ray test, or ultrasound scan.
Uterine or Cervical Abnormalities
Fibroids in the uterus are some abnormalities that can cause infertility by blocking the oviduct. Uterine structural abnormalities, known as congenital uterine malformations, are other problems that cause infertility. The malformations include a T-shaped, one-sided or unicornuate, heart-shaped or bicornuate, or septate uterus. Cervical scarring, double cervix, cervical cancer, cervical dysplasia, and cervical polyps are some cervical abnormalities that increase the risks of infertility.
Contact an Infertility Specialist
Infertility doctors conduct screenings, like ultrasound scans and pelvic exams, to help determine the causes of infertility in different patients. Doctors also offer quality treatments and supportive care to help patients recover and manage the physical and psychological issues that come with infertility. Schedule an appointment with an infertility specialist to get quality tests, care, and treatments today.
