Infertility is defined as inability to conceive by a couple even after 1 year (or 6 months in a couple older than 35yrs) of regular unprotected intercourse. Infertility is much more common than you think. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for people who wish to conceive.
Causes of infertility in females
There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting month after month for those two pink lines. Further added to this stress is finding out what is the cause behind it. Some causes of infertility affect one partner, while others affect both partners.
Common risk factors include:
- Age – it is seen that there is decrease in the fertility rate of women after the age 40 years.
- Smoking or alcohol consumption
- Exposure to environmental toxins such as chemicals, lead & pesticides.
- Radiation therapy or chemotherapy
- STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
- Obesity or underweight
- Any abnormalities of the hormone- producing center like hypothalamus or pituitary.
- Any chronic diseases
Causes of infertility specific to females include:
- Causes in utero-vaginal tract like
- Endometriosis
- PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)
- Uterine fibroids/ polyps
- Structural abnormalities of vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes
- Ovarian causes includes
- PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease)
- Primary ovarian insufficiency or poor egg quality
- Surgical or congenital absence of one or both ovaries
- Systemic causes like
- Kidney disease
- Autoimmune conditions like Lupus
- Thyroid disease
- Hypothalamic or pituitary gland disorders
- Genetic or chromosomal disorders
Diagnosing female infertility
These include:
- Detailed history taking – your healthcare provider will take your complete medical or sexual history.
- Pelvic examination – this is done to check for any structural problems or signs of any disease.
- Blood tests – done to check for hormone levels in suspected cases of infertility due to hormonal imbalance.
- Radiological examination – like transvaginal ultrasound, saline sonohysterogram (SIS), Sonohysterosalphingogram (HSG)
- Hysteroscopy – Gynaecologist inserts a thin tube called as a Hysteroscope into the vagina to examine the uterus.
- Laparoscopy – in this the gynaecologist inserts a laparoscope ( thin tube with a camera) into a small incision done on the stomach. It helps identify the problems like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, scar tissue etc.
Treatment in female infertility
Treatment of infertility depends on the cause behind it and its removal. These Include:
- Lifestyle modifications: like maintaining of ideal weight, quitting consumption of alcohol and smoking etc.
- Medications: Gynaecologist will prescribe drugs to stimulate ovaries to release more eggs which in turn increases the chances of getting pregnant.
- Surgery: simple surgical procedures via laparoscopy can help in clearing blocked fallopian tubes, remove polyps, fibroids or scar tissue that might be the cause for infertility.
- Assisted Reproductive Treatments(ART) : these includes treatment like In-Vitro Fertilization ( IVF), Intra Cytoplasmic Semen Injection (ICSI), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Assisted Hatching, Third party or Donor ART which bypasses the steps in the process of fertilization that occurs inside the uterus by fertilizing the egg and the sperm outside in the lab.
Kindly contact your healthcare provider or Gynecologist if you have any doubt regarding any symptoms or in case you are trying to conceive. Please be free to call and book your appointment at our center.
