Female Infertility
Female infertility or inability of a female to reproduce has a wide range of causes. Mostly the infertility is curable. However, the sooner you get your problem diagnosed the better. The general factors determining the reproductive ability of a female are age, body weight, eating disorders, smoking, sexually transmitted diseases, or reactions to certain kind of medications. The other factors, although not too common but still mainly affecting are: hypothalamic-pituitary factors that are the hormonal factors, ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal and genetic factors.
The fertility of a female starts declining after the age of 27 and it rapidly decreases after 35. Thus, females trying to conceive after 35 years of age need to take advice of the gynecologist. Smoking is very harmful to ovaries and affects hormone production. Sexually transmitted diseases are a major factor of female infertility. And the lack of easily visible symptoms and timely cure affects the fertility adversely. 12% infertility problems in women are due to being overweight or underweight. Excess of body fat produces estrogen and too much of androgen, making the body react as if on blood control drugs. While being underweight causes disruption in menstrual cycle and lack of estrogen. In both cases the menstrual cycles become irregular. Some other causes include Polycystic Ovarian syndrome, Fibroids and endometriosis. Infertility problems in women are also caused due to ovulatory disorders, premature ovarian failure etc.
Stress is another factor that affects a woman’s health on every way. And apart from other things it can also be a cause to infertility. Outside factors like jobs, family and inside factors like disease etc are the major causes of stress. The main signs of stress in women include twitching of eyes, tweaked muscles, cavities, forgetfulness, nausea, confusion, rashes, sleepiness etc. This stress can affect the production of hormones in females causing infertility. It also causes irregularity or even absence of menstrual cycle. Also stress in women lowers the natural defense system which may lead to women catching infection of the vaginal tract etc. and can result in infertility. Stress can lead to several cardio-vascular problems, muscular and emotional signs. All these results of stress adversely affect the libido and therefore the reproductive health of a female.
The food we take affects the health of our body and in turn affects the fertility and stress levels. The diet we take ought to be balanced and rich in vitamins. All nutrients are important for a good health but there are some vitamins and minerals that are particularly linked to energy levels of the human body. The most important vitamins for energy are vitamin B12, folic acid, magnesium, iron etc. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are important for the manufacture of red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body parts. This oxygen is required for proper metabolic activities. Thus the best vitamins for energy in our body are B12 and Folic acid (Vitamin B9).
Female Infertility is a problem that is related to the overall health and stress levels in women. Therefore it is important for women to care about stress control and intake of the best vitamins fro energy.
Guide to Female Infertility:
If You and Your partner have been unable to have a baby, You’re not alone. One out of seven couples has trouble conceiving. During this time, it is normal to experience feelings of Frustration, Jealousy and Anger. However, once you begin to explore your Medical options, you’ll find that ‘Herbal Unani and Fertility Treatments’ offer more hope for a successful pregnancy than ever before.
About 10% of couples in the United States are affected by infertility. Both men and women can be infertile. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 1/3 of the time the diagnosis is due to female infertility, 1/3 of the time it is linked to male infertility and the remaining 1/3 is due to a combination of factors from both partners. For approximately 20% of couples the cause can not be determined.
‘Infertility’ is typically defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after one year of unprotected intercourse. If a woman keeps having Miscarriages, it is also called ‘Infertility’. Lots of couples have infertility problems. About a third of the time,
Infertility can be traced to the woman. In another third of cases, it is because of the man. The rest of the time, it is because of both partners or no cause is found. If you or your partner has a known Fertility Problem, you probably should not wait an entire year before seeking Treatment. If you have been trying to conceive for a year or more, you may need to have an ‘Infertility Evaluation’
In order to understand the Fertility Tests and Treatments, it is important to understand how conception naturally occurs. First, your Ovary must release (ovulate) an egg, which must be picked up by the Fallopian Tube. Sperm must travel through the vagina, into the uterus, and up into the fallopian tube in order to fertilize the egg. Fertilization usually takes place in the fallopian tube. Then, the fertilized egg, or embryo, travels down to the uterus, where it implants in the uterine lining and develops. Infertility results when a problem develops in any part of this process.
You and your partner have been trying for months now to get pregnant but with no success. While it was fun in the beginning, you’re starting to get a little stressed about it now. Sex with your partner has changed from being enjoyable to only being done according to your ovulation schedule. And you find yourself thinking “what’s wrong with me?” more often these days.
Unlike on television, where characters seem to get pregnant just by thinking about it, in real life, conception isn’t always so easy. Many women experience fertility problems at some point during their lives and the reasons behind it are endless.
Fertility and Your Health
Health problems, whether temporary or chronic, can affect your reproductive capabilities. If you have experienced irregular periods all your life, this could indicate that medical help is necessary for you to get pregnant. If you have diabetes or hypothyroidism, it can affect your fertility in two ways. First, the illness itself can interfere with your ovulation cycle, making it irregular. If the illness itself doesn’t affect your menstrual cycle, then the medication used to treat it can act as an anti-depressant.
If you’ve had any type of abdominal or pelvic surgery in the past, it can cause adhesions in the pelvis. These can prevent conception from taking place or produce an ectopic pregnancy. If you have used an IUD (intrauterine device) for an extended period of time or if you have had a D&C (dilation and curettage), there could be scarring in your uterus, again affecting your ability to successfully become pregnant.
If you have ever had an STI (sexually transmitted infection), this can also inhibit your chances of becoming pregnant. STI’s are especially problematic for women because they can cause serious scarring throughout your reproductive organs.
Fertility and the Environment
If there are no direct medical conditions that could affect your reproductive health, then cast your memory back upon your working environments. Prolonged exposure to dangerous chemicals and environmental pollution has been known to cause infertility as well as birth defects. And don’t limit your memory to just your workplace; think of your environment in general. Exposure to radiation and pesticides can be particularly dangerous.
Fertility and Your Lifestyle
If everything still seems to be in your favor, then consider your diet and lifestyle. Smoking has many negative side effects on your health and your ability to become pregnant is one of the things it can affect. Simply cutting back on smoking won’t help; you need to completely quit.
Consuming large quantities of alcohol and caffeine is also bad for your fertility. One glass a day of each is fine, but any more than that and you could be negatively affecting your chances of getting pregnant. Using drugs such as cocaine and marijuana, even occasionally, can also hamper your reproductive organs’ ability to function properly. If you are training heavily for an upcoming event (for example, a marathon or biathlon), it may cause your periods to become irregular. If you really want to be in the Boston Marathon this year, then wait until it’s done and over with before you start trying to conceive.
The Next Steps
But how do you know for sure if you’re infertile? Well, if you have been trying to get pregnant for a year with no luck, book yourself and your partner for an appointment with your health care provider (if you’re over 40, then you can make this appointment after trying for 6 months)or a fertility specialist. To help determine whether or not you are infertile, a series of tests will be done. These tests can let you know if your fallopian tubes are open, if your ovaries are producing healthy eggs and, for your partner, if he is able to produce healthy sperm.
