Why can't I get pregnant
It might be discouraging and stressful when you're ready to
have a family but aren't conceiving. Particularly if you've attempted the
traditional strategies to increase your chances: engaging in many sexual
encounters throughout your reproductive window, taking your temperature each
morning, and using tools like ovulation tracker apps and prediction kits.
You can start to question whether you need to exercise more
patience or whether there is a medical issue. Not by yourself. Infertility
issues affect one in eight couples. Infertility specialist Chantel Cross, M.D.,
a reproductive endocrinologist at the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center at the
Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center — Green Spring Station in
Lutherville, Maryland, explains what aspects may be affecting your ability to
conceive and when you might want to think about seeking treatment for
infertility.
What
constitutes infertility?
For women under the age of 35, infertility is defined as the
inability to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex and after six months
for women over the age of 35.
The majority of people who regularly engage in unprotected
sexual activity will fall pregnant within the first 12 months of trying to
conceive, according to Cross. We advise a couple to get an infertility
evaluation after six months to a year of trying, depending on the age of the
lady. It's more likely that there is an issue preventing pregnancy at that
point.
Medical
Issues That Affect Fertility
Infertility may be caused by one or more reasons. The most
typical issues are as follows:
Blockage
of the fallopian tube
Infertility is frequently caused by blocked or damaged
fallopian tubes, which hinder sperm from accessing the egg, especially among
African Americans. Your chance of fallopian tube obstruction is increased if
you have ever had endometriosis, a pelvic infection, or a sexually transmitted
illness.
Unusual
uterine shape
A fertilized egg may find it challenging to adhere to the
uterine wall if the uterus has an uneven shape. Uterine fibroids, which are
benign growths on the uterine wall and scar tissue from surgery or
infection, can result in abnormalities. Another factor to consider is the shape
of your uterus.
Ovulation
dysfunction
Women occasionally fail to ovulate consistently and
regularly. Conditions including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hormonal
abnormalities, or obesity can lead to sporadic menstrual cycles. Stress, low
body weight, and extreme activity can potentially affect ovulation.
Men's
Issues
Sperm problems, such as low sperm count or irregular sperm
motility or shape, occur in more than 30% of instances of infertility. Male
factor infertility can be brought on by a variety of situations, including
trauma, chronic illnesses like diabetes, and harmful behaviors like binge
drinking and smoking.
How
Stress Affects Fertility
When you're trying to get pregnant, anxiety is common. It's
debatable, though, if that has an effect on fertility. No matter what stage of
life you're in, we do know that controlling stress is beneficial for you.
For
women, age is a key factor
"Your biological clock is ticking," you've
probably heard. Your fruitful window is referred to in this expression. When a
woman's menstrual cycle ends, which often happens in her 40s or 50s, she cannot become pregnant. While men continue to generate sperm throughout
their lives, women are born with a fixed quantity of eggs that get fewer as they
get older.
By the time you reach puberty, you will have lost hundreds
of thousands of your two million eggs, according to Cross. "Whatever you
do, your body will continue to lose eggs. And around the age of 37, the rate at
which women lose their eggs increases.
Over time, the quality of the eggs stored in the ovaries
gradually deteriorates. Cross argues that the eggs you are born with are
naturally halted in the process of splitting their DNA. When you ovulate them
20 to 40 years later, they finish that process or ripen. The longer eggs are
left in the middle of the division process, the greater the chance that the
process may go wrong and produce eggs with an incorrect number of chromosomes.
That causes chromosomal abnormalities, which cause infertility, miscarriages,
or births of children who have genetic disorders.
The bottom line: A woman's quality and quantity of eggs
diminish throughout the course of her lifetime, and egg loss quickens at the
age of 37, making it more challenging to conceive.
What
Infertility Treatment Do I Need?
An expert in infertility may be able to assist you if you're
experiencing problems conceiving. An infertility evaluation should be scheduled
after a year of attempting to conceive (or six months if you're 35 or older).
This extensive evaluation consists of the following:
- Physical check
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Blood work
- Semen analysis
- Assessment of the uterus and fallopian tubes (by expert x-rays or ultrasounds)
Consult your doctor to determine whether you should be
examined sooner if you or your partner have a known medical issue that affects
the uterus, fallopian tubes, sperm, or ovulation. For instance, you should
consult with an infertility professional even before attempting to conceive if
you are aware that both of your fallopian tubes are obstructed.
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