About one-third of infertility cases are due to problems with the man (male factors) and one-third are due to problems with the woman (female factors). Some of the causes of female fertility may include:
Other problems can also lead to complications with women's fertility. If the fallopian tubes are blocked, the egg can't travel through the tubes into the uterus. Blocked tubes may result from pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery.
Lifestyle factors may also affect female fertility. For example, smoking can damage the genetic material in eggs. A healthy weight can help with fertilization, whilst being both under- and overweight can contribute to infertility.
The primary sign of female infertility is the inability to conceive and sustain a pregnancy. Some of the symptoms of associated conditions that affect your menstrual cycle and ovulation may include:
You may be at a risk of female infertility if you have the following factors:
When you visit the clinic for infertility problems, your doctor will review your medical and sexual histories, and perform a thorough physical examination.
The first step in female fertility testing is to find out if you are ovulating each month. There are several ways to do this. For example, you can keep track of changes in your morning body temperature and texture of your cervical mucous. Another tool is a home ovulation test kit, which can be bought at a pharmacy. Checks of ovulation can also be done in your doctors office, using blood tests for hormone levels or ultrasound imaging of the ovaries. If you are ovulating, more tests will need to be done.
Some common female tests include:
Female infertility can be associated with many other conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, uterine polyps, pituitary tumours, premature ovarian failure, hyperprolactinemia and cervical stenosis.
There are 2 types of female infertility:
Left untreated, you may not be able to get pregnant and have a baby.
Depending on the test results, different treatments can be suggested. Eighty-five to 90% of infertility cases are treated with drugs or surgery.
Various fertility drugs may be used for women with ovulation problems. It is important to talk with Dr Alex Polyakov about the drug to be used. You should understand the drugs benefits and side effects. Depending on the type of fertility drug and the dosage of the drug used, multiple births (such as twins) can occur in some women.
If needed, surgery can be done to repair damage to a womans ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus.
Your doctor may even suggest assisted reproductive techniques (ART) to assist with a particular step in the reproductive process.
Some of the alternative treatments for female infertility can include:
You may have reason to be concerned if you have been trying to get pregnant for at least one year and:
Some forms of infertility cannot be prevented, but there are a few factors that may increase your chances of becoming pregnant:
Extensive research is being done to find better treatment options for female infertility. Some of the recent studies are listed below:
What is the percentage of population affected by female infertility?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four couples suffer from infertility.
How does female infertility affect you?
Pregnancy results from a chain of events. A womans fertility often depends on her bodys ability to release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation). The egg must travel through a fallopian tube toward her uterus (womb). A mans sperm must join with (fertilise) the egg along the way. The fertilised egg must then attach itself to the inside of the uterus. Female infertility can affect any of these processes and prevent you from conceiving and giving birth to a baby.
Which part of the body is affected?
The female reproductive system is made up of the following parts:
These events are controlled by hormones secreted by the ovaries and the brain. Female infertility can affect the ability of these hormones or the reproductive system to function normally to allow and sustain a pregnancy.
Am I a candidate for IVF?
You may be a good candidate for IVF if you any of the below conditions:
If you have been trying to conceive, get honest & transparent fertility advice from Dr Alex Polyakov female infertility specialists in Melbourne. Visit Melbourne IVF clinic today or book an online appointment