Millions of women of childbearing age struggle with infertility and find it difficult to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy to full term. Infertility may occur if you have problems with ovulation or due to medical conditions such as endometriosis. Fortunately, there are different treatments for Houston Infertility that your doctor may recommend depending on the cause of your infertility.
What causes infertility in women?
Damage to fallopian tubes
The sperm needs to get to an egg for fertilization to take place. However, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes hinder fertilization by preventing the sperm from getting to the egg and blocking the passage of a fertilized egg into the uterus. Different causes for damage or blockage in the fallopian tube include:
- Sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia may result in an infection of the fallopian tubes and uterus.
- Pelvic tuberculosis. Most tubal infertility is caused by this condition which is less common in America.
- Previous surgery in your abdomen. An example is during ectopic pregnancy when a fertilized egg develops in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
Fibroids
These are non-cancerous growths or tumors in the uterus lining and may vary in size and positioning. You may develop very tiny growths or significant ones that result in a bulge in your lower abdomen. Most people with fibroids experience heavy menstrual bleeding. Fibroids may interfere with the implantation of a fertilized egg and put you at a higher risk of a miscarriage. Your doctor may recommend treatment, including uterine artery embolization, to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Endometriosis
This condition occurs when tissue in the uterus lining grows in other places, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvis. The extra tissue may cause scarring and irritation, which may block the fallopian tube. Endometriosis may also inhibit the implantation of a fertilized egg. If you have endometriosis, you may experience various symptoms, for example, pain during sexual intercourse, spotting, heavy menstrual bleeding, and pelvic pain. However, some people may have endometriosis and fail to have any symptoms. If you have this condition, your specialist may surgically remove the scar tissue or open your fallopian tubes to treat this condition and improve your chances of getting pregnant.
What are the risk factors for women’s infertility?
While these medical conditions may cause infertility, it is essential to note that other factors may increase your risk for infertility. For example:
- Fertility decreases as you advance in age and may be difficult to conceive from mid-thirties and onwards as the rate of follicle loss increases and the quality of the eggs become poor.
- Smoking prematurely ages your ovaries and depletes your eggs. It also damages the fallopian tubes and cervix and increases your risk for an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage.
- Being obese or significantly underweight puts you at risk for a miscarriage. If you are overweight, your doctor may recommend that you engage in physical exercise to lose excess weight and maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI).
Infertility does not mean you cannot get pregnant. If you have tried to get pregnant for at least one year with no success, reserve a session with your doctor at Memorial Women’s Specialists for treatment to increase your likelihood of getting pregnant.
