Many couples struggle to conceive. While there are many potential causes of this – including lifestyle factors like drinking alcohol heavily and stress – the majority of fertility issues can often stem from underlying health problems. Below are some of the different health problems that could be worth exploring and how to treat them (if possible).
Irregular ovulation
Irregular ovulation is when periods don’t follow a normal cycle. Either you’re having them too regularly (more than every 21 days) or you’re not having them regularly enough (less than every 35 days). Some women may even go months without a single period.
This is the most common health problem that causes fertility issues. Without a predictable ovulation cycle to follow, it can be hard to know when you are fertile. In some cases, irregular ovulation can be caused by stress or being overweight/underweight. Taking steps to reduce stress in your life and reaching a healthy weight could increase your chance of correcting your ovulation cycle and falling pregnant. Alternatively, you could ask a doctor about medication like clomiphene – which may be able to kickstart your ovulation cycle if it is not happening. Various apps can help you to track your ovulation cycle, which can help you determine if your ovulation is irregular.
Polycystic ovaries
Irregular periods could themselves be caused by another underlying health problem called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a disease in which the ovaries become enlarged and full of fluid-filled cyst-like follicles. Excess body hair and acne can be other possible symptoms, caused by hormone imbalances as a result of the ovaries not working properly. It is thought that it affects as much as 1 in 10 women.
A number of tests are usually required to pin down whether or not you have polycystic ovaries. A doctor will be able to schedule these for you if you are experiencing irregular ovulation. While the cause of PCOS is unknown, there are a few effective ways to treat its symptoms. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor or potentially surgery if it is severe. With the right treatment, most women with this condition can still fall pregnant.
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is an obvious problem when trying for a baby. About 1 in 5 men experience ED regularly – with this figure increasing as men get older. It is a lot more common than many of us realise, and can be caused by so many factors from stress to heavy drinking.
Fortunately, ED is very treatable nowadays. Drugs like viagra are very effective, while alternative options like kamagra available from stores like kamagra-apotheke.com can also have results. Try this medication if you are regularly experiencing ED. The likes of viagra requires a prescription, while kamagra doesn’t. It is best to look into prescription options if you are unable to get an erection at all.
Low sperm count
Another common health problem that can affect male fertility is low sperm count. This could include a lack of sperm in the semen or no sperm at all. As with ED, lifestyle factors like stress or smoking may be the root cause of a low sperm count. However, it can also be a genetic problem or the result of a hormone imbalance.
To diagnose a low sperm count, you will need to provide a sperm sample to a doctor for analysis. Such a test may not only be able to measure your sperm count, but also potentially other sperm disorders like misshapen sperm. Treatments are sometimes possible such as medication for infections, hormone therapy to stimulate sperm production or surgery to remove obstructions. If these treatments do not work, you may have to consider other options like IVF with the help of a donor.
Fibroids
Fibroids are benign growths of tissue that can develop in and around the womb. About 1 in 3 women are believed to have them. Most fibroids do not affect fertility, but those large enough or located in the wrong place may obstruct fertilisation or change the shape of the womb. Fibroids can develop for all kinds of reasons and many women do not know they have them (although some can cause pain and discomfort).
Tests will be able to determine if you have fibroids. The most simple test is an ultrasound, which can display an image of your womb to accurately determine if there are any unusual growths. If fibroids are discovered and they are large or obstructive, surgery may be recommended to remove them. A myomectomy can remove fibroids while keeping the womb intact. Only in severe cases is a hysterectomy needed.
Ovarian cysts
Commonly confused with polycystic ovaries, ovarian cysts are actual cysts (unlike PCOS, which are follicles) which grow on the ovaries. They do not always alter the ovulation process, and may not even affect fertility – however there are cases where they can cause blockages and issues that could stop you conceiving. Sometimes these cysts are painful, but most are unnoticeable.
Think you may have ovarian cysts? Tests such as blood tests or ultrasounds should be able to diagnose this health problem for you. If you need imaging to confirm the presence of cysts, finding experts specializing in radiology near me in Sparta, NJ, or elsewhere, can be a good first step toward getting a proper evaluation.Treatments like surgery may then be possible to remove these cysts if it is likely they are affecting fertility. This is usually achieved via keyhole surgery.
Blocked fallopian tubes
A blockage within a fallopian tube could also possibly cause fertility problems While it is often still possible to conceive with one blocked fallopian tube, a blockage can lower your chance of falling pregnant by forcing you to rely on a single ovary. There are many things that can cause fallopian tube blockages including scar tissue from previous surgery, pelvic adhesions or even infections caused by STIs. In many cases, there are no symptoms, which is why it’s important to see a doctor.
A specialist test called a hysterosalpingogram can diagnose whether you have a blockage. While medication can sometimes treat these blockages (as in the case of infections), surgery may be needed to treat certain blockages. Be wary that if there is damage to a fallopian tube, you may have to have it removed (a salpingectomy). If both need to be removed, it may be possible to still freeze your eggs and fall pregnant via IVF.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a strange but common health condition in which excess womb tissue starts growing in unwanted places. This tissue can interfere with the functions of the ovaries and fallopian tubes in some cases, which can lead to problems conceiving. Many women with endometriosis experience constant abdominal pain, but sometimes there is no pain at all and an ultrasound is required to detect the problem.
Painkillers and hormone therapy are sometimes recommended to those with endometriosis to ease the pain. As for improving your chance of conceiving, surgery may be necessary to remove some of the excess tissue – especially if it is already affecting the fallopian tubes or ovaries. Keyhole surgery is typically used to remove this excess tissue, leading to minimal scarring. Just be wary that tissue may grow back in the future. This post at HopkinsMedicine.org explains more about endometriosis.
Premature menopause
Your menopause is when you run out of eggs and stop having periods. Most women experience this around the age of 50, but some women can experience it much earlier (sometimes as early as one’s 30s). If you have stopped having periods and you are experiencing symptoms like hot flushes and mood swings, it could be because you’re going through your menopause.
This is clearly very bad news if you’re trying for a baby. It is worth waiting it out if you are still young just in case you are going through a ‘false menopause’ – there have been cases where women have started having periods again and the ovaries have started working again. If this doesn’t happen, you may have to accept the harsh reality that you can’t fall pregnant naturally. IVF via egg donation may still be possible and has a 75% of success if you are still relatively young. Using a surrogate mother or adopting are other options.
Cancer
As you likely already know, cancer can affect any part of the body. This includes the reproductive organs of men and women. Prostate cancer and testicular cancer are some of the biggest dangers to men’s fertility, while womb cancer and ovarian cancer are the most likely to harm women’s fertility. That said, other cancers in and around the abdomen can also be dangerous.
Cancer as a hidden cause of infertility is relatively rare and you should usually consider other health problems first before jumping to the conclusion of cancer. That said, you may want to look into it if you’re experiencing symptoms such as unusual discharge, pain in the abdomen (or testicles) or the need to urinate more often. Such forms of cancer can often be successfully treated with chemotherapy or surgery if caught early. See a doctor if you are worried that you may have cancer – they will be able to schedule necessary tests to determine whether you have cancer or another health problem.
