Female fertility is a cause of concern for many couples. Infertility is a condition in which the couple fails to conceive even after trying for a long time. In such cases, the couple needs consultation and immediate help from a doctor. If the woman trying to conceive is above 35 and fails even after trying for six months, they need immediate consultation by a specialist. If the couple is above the age of 40, immediate evaluation is required.
Also remember, infertility doesn’t include miscarriage or being unable to carry a baby to childbirth.
The next question that comes to our minds is, what affects female fertility?
Female fertility can be weakened due to numerous factors, some of which are:
- Problems with the uterus: To conceive, having a healthy uterus is a must. In case of any abnormalities in the uterus, women may experience infertility. These include polyps, fibroids, septum inside the cavity of the uterus. While polyps and fibroids may grow over time, the septum is present at birth.
- Problems with the fallopian tube: Damage in the fallopian tube can be another cause of female infertility. Also known as pelvic inflammatory disease, this is caused by gonorrhea and chlamydia.
- Ovulation problems: For a woman to be able to conceive, they need to release eggs regularly. But, hormonal imbalances, irregular menstruation, eating disorders, thyroid, etc may affect the process of ovulation making it difficult to conceive.
What are the risk factors that affect female fertility?
There are innumerable factors that affect female fertility and contribute to female infertility. Some of these factors are:
- Abnormal Menstruation: A normal menstrual cycle occurs usually after every 28 days and lasts for 4 to 7 days. The gap period between the cycle and the menstrual period may differ from woman to woman. But, if the period occurs within 21 days from the last cycle or after 35 days of the last cycle, you may be suffering from a menstrual problem. Other examples of menstrual problems are missing your menstrual cycles in a row, or experiencing heavy or lighter bleeding than before. Irregular periods may cause infertility issues in the future.
- Celiac Disease: A disease that can damage your small intestine, Celiac Disease is a digestive and autoimmune disorder that affects female fertility. People with this disease may experience symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, gas, anemia, and growth issues. Celiac Disease may be caused due to the consumption of gluten which is found in grain such as wheat, barley, etc.
- Kidney Disease: Chronic Kidney Disease can also contribute to female infertility. Common causes for Chronic Kidney Disease are high blood pressure and diabetes. There is no cure for Chronic Kidney Disease, but you can take necessary precautions for its proper functioning.
- Pituitary Gland Disorder: Pituitary Gland is a pea-sized gland in the base of our brain which is responsible for the proper functioning of our body parts. Also known as the Master Gland, it looks into the functioning of all the other glands. Pituitary Gland is responsible for vital functions such as reproduction, growth, etc. If your pituitary gland isn’t functioning properly, it may contribute to infertility.
- Thyroid Disorder: A thyroid gland is a small organ located in the front of our neck. The thyroid gland secretes hormones that are essential for many vital functions. Improper functioning of this gland can cause thyroid disorders such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This also has a direct effect on fertility.
