Female infertility is a common condition in which a female has problems getting pregnant and has a successful pregnancy. This is usually identified after a woman has attempted for 12 months to get pregnant (via sexual intercourse) without success. Infertility can be treated with a variety of methods, including drugs to address hormonal problems, surgery to address physical abnormalities, and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

 

What causes female infertility?

Infertility can be due to a variety of factors. But, pinpointing the specific cause can be challenging, and some couples have “unexplained” or “multifactorial” infertility (multiple causes, often both male and female problems). Female factor infertility can be due to many factors, including:

 

Problems with the uterus: 

This indicates problems inside the uterus cavity such as fibroids and polyps, adhesion, and septum. At any time, polyps and fibroids can be formed on their own. On the other hand, issues like septum may be present at the time of birth. Surgeries like dilation and curettage (D&C) can lead to adhesions. 

 

Problems with the fallopian tubes: 

Pelvic inflammatory illness, which is generally caused by chlamydia and gonorrhea, is the most prevalent cause of “tubal factor” infertility.

 

Problems with ovulation: 

A woman may not release an egg (ovulate) on a regular basis for a variety of situations. Hormone changes, a history of food disorders, substance misuse, thyroid problems, emotional duress, and pituitary tumors are just a few of the factors that might interfere with ovulation.

 

Problems with egg number and quality: 

At the time of birth, women have all the eggs they will ever need, although these reserves might deplete before menopause. Furthermore, some eggs will have the incorrect amount of chromosomes and will be unable to fertilize or develop into a healthy baby. Some chromosomal problems may impact all of the eggs. Others are irregular, but as a woman gets older, they become more prevalent¹.

 

Common Signs of Infertility in Women

 

Irregular periods

A woman's cycle lasts 28 days on average. However, as long as the cycles are regular, everything within a few days of that can be declared acceptable. A female with a 33-day cycle one month, a 31-day cycle the next, and a 35-day cycle the following month is most likely experiencing "regular" periods.

However, a woman with irregular periods has cycles that fluctuate so much that she can't even guess when her period will arrive. This might be due to hormonal imbalances or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Almost all of these factors can lead to infertility.

 

Painful or heavy periods

Throughout their periods, the majority of women have cramps. However, painful periods that disrupt your everyday life might be a sign of endometriosis.

 

Absent periods

It's not unusual for women to have a bad month every now and then. Anxiety, tension, or strenuous exercise might cause your period to disappear for a short time. You must consult your doctor if you haven’t had a period in months. 

 

Symptoms of hormone fluctuations

Problems with fertility in women are mostly linked with signs of hormonal changes. You must talk to your doctor if you experience the following. 

• Weight gain
• Skin problems 
• Hair thinning 
• Facial hair growth 
• Reduced sex drive 

 

Pain during sex

Many women have spent their entire lives having painful sex and have convinced themselves that it is normal. However, this is not the case. It might be caused by hormonal imbalances, endometriosis, or other underlying problems that are also leading to infertility².

 

Risk factors

The following are certain risk factors that increase the risk of infertility. 

Age

With the advancing age, the quality and quantity of a woman's eggs decrease. The rate of follicle loss increases in the mid-30s, which leads to poor-quality eggs. That's why it increases the risk of miscarriages and makes conception difficult. 

 

Smoking

The chances of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy increase with increase smoking in addition to harming your cervix and fallopian tubes. It's also known to prematurely age your ovaries and reduce your eggs. Before starting fertility treatment, you should quit smoking. 

 

Weight

Obesity or being underweight can interfere with natural ovulation. Increasing the frequency of ovulation and the likelihood of conception by achieving a healthy body mass index (BMI).

 

Sexual history

Fallopian damage is obvious with sexually transmitted infections including gonorrhea and chlamydia. The chances of sexually transmitted diseases increase with unprotected sex with multiple partners and ultimately lead to fertility issues. 

 

Alcohol

Reduce your alcohol intake to prevent damage to your reproductive organs. Do not drink more than one alcoholic drink per day³. 

 

What medicines are used to treat infertility in women?

Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include:

 

Clomiphene citrate (Clomid): 

By acting on the pituitary gland, this medication induces ovulation. It's frequently prescribed to women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or other ovulation issues. This medication is administered orally. 

 

Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG (Repronex, Pergonal): 

When women have a problem with the pituitary gland, doctors mostly recommend hMG that stimulates ovulation by directly acting on ovaries. It is available in the form of injection. 

 

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) analog: 

Gn-RH is mostly used in women who don't ovulate regularly each month. It is also recommended for women who ovulate before the egg is ready. Nasal spray and injections of Gn-RH are available in the market. 

 

Bromocriptine (Parlodel): 

This medication is prescribed for women who are having trouble ovulating due to excessive prolactin levels. Prolactin is a hormone that stimulates the production of milk⁴.

 

 

References

 

1. Female Infertility. [Internet]. [Cited 2021 July 08]; Available from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17774-female-infertility
2. 5 Common Signs of Infertility in Men and Women. [Internet]. [Cited 2021 July 08]; Available from https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/signs-of-infertility#Common-Signs-of-Infertility-in-Women-
3. Female Infertility. [Internet]. [Cited 2021 July 08]; Available from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354308
4. Infertility. [Internet]. [Cited 2021 July 08]; Available from https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/infertility

 

 

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