What causes infertility in women? - East Idaho News
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What causes infertility in women?

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About 10 percent of women in the United States between the age of 15 to 44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after one year trying. Women who can get pregnant but are unable to stay pregnant may also be considered infertile.

What causes infertility in women?

Experts agree most cases of female infertility are caused by problems with ovulation. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.

One of the most common issues is polycystic ovary syndrome. It’s a condition that is caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. The result is that eggs may not develop normally, or many not be released during ovulation.

Doctors at the Idaho Fertility Center say it’s a highly treatable condition.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports less common causes of fertility in women include blocked fallopian tubes, physical problems with the uterus, uterine fibroids (non-cancerous clumps of tissue and muscle on the walls of the uterus), and recurring bacterial or yeast infections.

What things increase a woman’s risk of infertility?

The Mayo Clinic has identified five areas that can increase the likelihood of infertility among women.

  • Age. The quality and quantity of eggs declines as women age, making conception more difficult and increasing risk of miscarriage.
  • Smoking. Smoking can damages reproductive organs and increase the risk of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
  • Weight. A healthy body mass index increasing the frequency of ovulation and likelihood of pregnancy. Being overweight or underweight hinders pregnancy.
  • Sexual history. Sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea can damage reproductive organs and cause fertility problems.
  • Alcohol. The Mayo Clinic recommends women looking to become pregnant should stick to moderate alcohol consumption of no more than one drink per day.

How do doctors treat infertility in women?

The reproductive endocrinologists at Idaho Fertility Center use diagnostic testing to determine how to treat women experiencing infertility. Those tests may include blood tests done on day two or three of a woman’s menstrual cycle that will indicate how well the ovaries respond to fertility drugs.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT DIAGNOSING INFERTILITY IN WOMEN

A variety of other tests can also be conducted based on individual circumstance. In about 20 percent of cases, the cause of infertility may not be discovered, but there are treatments designed to overcome virtually all causes.

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