What Causes Infertility in Women?
Female infertility accounts for about one third of all infertility cases. Infertility in women can be caused by conditions affecting any of your reproductive organs — your ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus.
Infertility affects an estimated 10 percent of women. Studies have found that about a third of infertility cases are due to female infertility, another third to men, and the rest to issues affecting both partners or a cause that may remain a mystery.
Many factors can contribute to female infertility. Understanding them is the first step toward resolving them.
Female Infertility: Ovulation Problems
Problems with ovulation are the most common cause of female infertility. Without an egg being released — the very definition of ovulation — you can’t have a pregnancy. A lack of ovulation is frequently due to:
Polycystic ovarian syndrome: An imbalance of hormones causes a disruption in the regular ovulation process.
Primary ovarian insufficiency: With this condition that affects women under 40, your ovaries aren’t functioning as they should be during your fertile years.
Female Infertility: Blocked Fallopian Tubes
A blockage in your fallopian tubes can prevent a released egg from being fertilizing by sperm and from progressing on its journey toward your uterus. Blocked fallopian tubes can be traced to:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Endometriosis, the condition characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus
- Surgery for an ectopic pregnancy
Female Infertility: Uterine Conditions
Infertility in women may be due to problems with the uterus itself or with unwanted growths within the uterus, such as uterine fibroids or polyps. Uterine fibroids, for instance, are typically benign but can grow on the uterine walls. Fibroids and other physical abnormalities of your uterus can make it difficult to conceive or carry a baby to term.
Female Infertility: Symptoms
Some common symptoms that may indicate female infertility include irregular menstrual periods, not having any periods at all, or extreme pain associated with your periods.
If you have any of these symptoms, if you know that you have a condition that can affect fertility like endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease, or if you have been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for one year (or for six months if you are 35 or older), it’s time to talk with your doctor. He or she can give you a physical exam, review your medical history, and perform tests to determine if you have female infertility.
Female Infertility: Diagnosing the Problem
Some of the more common tests used in the diagnosis of infertility in women are:
Ovulation tracking. The first step in assessing your fertility is often tracking when you ovulate. To assess your ovulation, your doctor may instruct you to keep a record of your menstrual cycles, chart your body temperature, use a urine test kit, or have periodic blood tests; he or she even may monitor your follicle growth via ultrasound.
Hysterosalpingogram. In this procedure, a liquid is injected into your cervix and an X-ray is used to track its flow to detect a blocked fallopian tube or uterine abnormality.
Laparoscopy. A small surgical instrument called a laparoscope — a tube fitted with a small camera — is inserted in your abdomen so that the doctor can visualize any problems affecting your fallopian tubes or uterus.
Hormone testing. Your doctor may order blood tests to check for abnormal levels of hormones that play a role in fertility issues.
Ovarian reserve test. This simple blood test can give your doctor an idea of how many eggs you have and how healthy they are.
Female Infertility: Treatment
Advances in infertility treatments may help many women get pregnant. Options include:
- Medication, such as fertility drugs
- Surgery, such as removing endometrial growths or fibroids
- Artificial insemination
- Other assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF)
Female Infertility: Reducing Your Risk
In many cases, you cannot control how fertile you are, but you can increase your chances of being able to have a healthy baby by:
- Not smoking
- Avoiding excessive alcohol use
- Managing your stress
- Maintaining a healthy diet and a healthy weight
- Protecting yourself against sexually transmitted diseases
Being unable to conceive can lead to a rash of emotions, including frustration. Infertility experts have developed many different treatment options. Talk with a doctor to see what might work best for you and your partner.