If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, you are not alone. Millions of people worldwide experience infertility. Symptoms of female fertility problems include irregular vaginal bleeding, abnormal discharge, and painful ovulation. A physical exam and a pelvic ultrasound can confirm the cause of infertility. Treatment options may include medication, ART, or surgery.
Hormonal Imbalances
A woman’s hormones fluctuate in mostly predictable patterns, but when these fluctuations become too dramatic or occur too often, they can hurt fertility. Hormonal imbalances may develop due to natural hormonal changes (like pregnancy and menopause) or several medical conditions and treatments. A variety of symptoms can indicate a hormonal imbalance, including irregular periods, low sexual desire, and weight fluctuations. These problems can be difficult to pinpoint, as they are often brushed off as minor inconveniences and are not taken seriously until more serious consequences arise.
If you are attempting to conceive, it is important to know that a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant begin to decrease at age 30, and women should see a doctor if they are not successful in getting pregnant after one year of trying to conceive (or six months for those over 35).
When seeing your healthcare provider, they will review your past medical history. They will likely do a physical exam and bloodwork to check the state of your uterus and fallopian tubes. They may also do a procedure called hysteroscopy, in which they insert a small, flexible tube through the vaginal opening and into the uterus to see the interior of the womb more clearly. They will then perform a pelvic ultrasound to assess the condition of the ovaries and uterus and test your hormones to determine which are out of balance. Fortunately, there are still numerous options available for managing infertility. For instance, fertility booster pills for women offer a range of benefits, promoting reproductive health and increasing the likelihood of conception. These supplements frequently include vital vitamins and minerals that support overall reproductive health, like chaste berry, green tea extract, folate, and L-arginine. Additionally, fertility booster pills may regulate hormonal balance, optimize ovulation, and enhance the quality of eggs, providing a holistic approach to improving fertility outcomes for women aspiring to conceive.
Endometriosis
Getting pregnant and carrying a pregnancy to term is a complex process. A woman must ovulate (release an egg), fertilize the egg with healthy sperm, and the implanted embryo must grow fully in a healthy uterus. Problems with any one of these processes can lead to infertility. Fortunately, many of these problems can be corrected with treatment.
In endometriosis, the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the uterus — usually on other reproductive organs or in the belly. This misplaced tissue reacts to the hormone changes of each menstrual cycle and thickens, breaks down and bleeds each month. But unlike the uterus lining, this tissue can’t leave the body, so it builds up, causes pain and may form scar tissue that blocks fallopian tubes.
If endometriosis is causing pain and fertility problems, your healthcare team may recommend treatment. This can include medications that help your ovaries produce more eggs and surgically remove any endometriosis. You may also have regular exams to ensure the disease isn’t worsening.
In vitro fertilization and artificial insemination are two more fertility treatments that may be necessary for women who are having difficulty conceiving.
Infertility can affect both women and men, so it’s important to talk with your partner about what may be behind your difficulties. It can also help to join a support group for women with infertility problems.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a result of untreated STDs such as gonorrhea or chlamydia that can spread to the uterus or cervix). An ectopic pregnancy, pelvic pain, and infertility can result from this inflammation, which also makes the organs scarred with fibrous bands.
Since the symptoms of PID can vary and be misdiagnosed as an ovarian cyst, appendicitis, or urinary tract infection, it can be challenging to treat. A visit to your physician is the only way to determine if you have PID. Along with a cervix swab, they will perform a physical examination of your genital area. Urine and blood tests will also be conducted.
If you do have PID, the treatment is antibiotics. Most women who complete their course of medication have no long-term problems. However, if an infection goes untreated, the womb and fallopian tubes can be permanently damaged. This can cause recurrent infections and fertility problems, especially for women who use intrauterine devices or have frequent vaginal douching.
If you have had an episode of PID, it’s important to get your body back to a healthy state before trying to conceive. Your physician can prescribe oral or intravaginal antibiotics to help restore the bacterial balance and heal your reproductive tract. They may recommend other therapies to help you on your journey to conception, such as acupuncture.
Pelvic Trauma
The pelvis is one of the largest bones in the body and protects important internal organs, including those needed for conception. Unfortunately, trauma to the pelvis can lead to fertility issues.
For women, pelvic trauma may cause problems with ovulation and damage to the fallopian tubes or uterus. These issues can prevent sperm from entering the uterus and uniting with an egg, or they may prevent an embryo from attaching to the uterus, leading to miscarriage or failed pregnancies.
Injuries to the pelvis often result from high-impact events, such as car accidents and falls from significant heights. However, even a low-impact injury to the pelvis may be difficult for the patient to recover from. For example, the impact from a motorcycle accident can fracture the pelvis, as well as damage major blood vessels and the bladder or bowel.
In addition, a pelvic fracture can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction in men and painful intercourse in women. This is because the pain from a pelvic injury can disrupt nerves that control these functions. Fortunately, the vast majority of patients with pelvic fractures resume a normal sexual life after recovery from their injuries. However, patients should discuss this with their orthopedic specialist so that they can make an informed decision about whether to have sex or not after healing from their pelvic injury.