Common Causes of Infertility in Women
BY CHEROKEE WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS, PC
Infertility is defined as trying for a year or more to get pregnant without success. Infertility in women often can be difficult to diagnose, but there are treatments available, depending on the cause. Many infertile couples will go on to conceive a child without treatment, but women should consult an OB-GYN to determine if infertility is caused by a medical condition. One or more factors may be at play:
Ovulation Disorders
Infrequent ovulation is the most common cause of infertility. Problems with the regulation of reproductive hormones cause ovulation disorders. • Polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common cause of infertility, causes a hormone imbalance, which affects ovulation. • Hypothalamic dysfunction. Irregular or absent periods are the most common signs of hypothalamic dysfunction. Excess stress, a low or high body weight, or a recent weight change disrupts hormone production and affects ovulation. • Primary ovarian insufficiency: The condition when your ovaries no longer produce eggs is called premature ovarian failure. • Too much prolactin. Some women may have a condition or are taking a medication that causes excess production of prolactin, which reduces estrogen production and causes infertility.
Damage to Fallopian Tubes
Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes keep sperm from getting to the egg, blocking the passage of the fertilized egg into the uterus. Causes include: • Pelvic inflammatory disease, which is an infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes due to sexually transmitted infections. • Prior surgery in the pelvis or the abdomen.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when tissue that typically grows in the uterus implants and grows in other places, blocking fallopian tubes and keeping an egg and sperm from coming together. Endometriosis also can disrupt implantation of the fertilized egg. Several uterine and cervical causes interfere with eggs implanting or increase the risk of miscarriage. Benign polyps or tumors in the uterus that block the fallopian tubes are among the causes of infertility, or if a woman has an unusually shaped uterus or another condition called cervical stenosis, which is a narrowing of the cervix. Seeking treatment from an OB-GYN often makes all the difference in treating infertility. In most cases, the sooner the treatment for infertility, the greater the chance of finding the cause of the problem. Finding the reason for infertility improves your chances of a successful pregnancy.
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Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, PC has six OB-GYNs and five midlevel providers, with offices in Canton and Woodstock.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2022
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