Have you been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for many months? Below are some possible causes of your fertility issues. Possible reasons why you haven't become pregnant include:
- hormonal issues
- Blockages in the Fallopian Tubes
- an untreated chlamydia infection
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Time of sexual intercourse
- Use of sperm-inhibiting lubricants due to vaginal dryness
- Poor sperm quality
- low sperm count
- erectile dysfunction
- blocked vas deferens
- unhealthy lifestyle
- Age
Infertility Due to Hormonal Imbalances
Dysfunctions (functional disorders) of the fertility hormones affect ovulation. Symptoms of anovulation (lack of ovulation) include irregular periods or the absence of periods. Stress, illness, and significant changes in body weight can contribute to hormonal dysfunction.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can also cause hormonal problems. If you’re gaining weight for no apparent reason, having trouble getting pregnant, and experiencing excessive hair growth, make an appointment with your gynecologist. Your gynecologist will order a blood test to confirm PCOS or rule out the possibility.
Menopause rules out pregnancy. Even during the period leading up to menopause (perimenopause), pregnancy is rather unlikely. For some women, menopause sets in earlier than usual. This predisposition is hereditary. If your mother experienced this, it’s likely that earlymenopause is the cause of your problem.
Keep track of the time between your ovulation and your next period. If it is less than ten days, you are subfertile. This means that pregnancy is possible despite a short luteal phase. The fertilized egg is expelled before it has a chance to implant in the uterine lining.
Endometriosis, fibroids, and a widespread sexually transmitted disease
Endometriosis is a benign but painful and chronic condition. The lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterine cavity (ectopic). This tissue changes in the same way as the normal endometrium during the menstrual cycle. The condition may lead to blockage of the fallopian tubes and, consequently, infertility. In such cases, the doctor removes the excess tissue or treats the endometriosis with medication.
Experts refer to fibroids as benign tumors (growths) of the uterine muscle tissue. These block the fallopian tubes and thus prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the endometrium. The doctor removes the fibroid through hormonal therapy or surgery.
Another possible cause of your infertility is a common sexually transmitted disease —chlamydia. It can cause a blockage in the fallopian tubes. The disease is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse. Your doctor can perform a test to determine whether you currently have or have had the disease.
Lifestyle as a Cause of Infertility
Infertility in men and women is exacerbated by a lifestyle characterized by the following vices:
- Smoking—causes a high number of abnormal sperm or a low sperm count
- increased alcohol consumption—more than one to two units of alcohol per day for women and two to four for men
- Drugs
Other possible reasons why you are not getting pregnant include medications and being overweight or underweight.
The Difference Between Subfertility and Infertility, and Who to Contact If Either Is Present
Subfertility is defined as a situation in which a couple has been trying unsuccessfully to conceive a child for more than two years. Ovulation occurs, sperm production is not impaired, and yet pregnancy does not occur due to hormonal or organic problems. Subfertility is generally treatable. Doctors refer to complete inability to conceive as infertility. This affects nine percent of the population.
If you’re also having trouble getting pregnant, consult with experts. One option is to contact the private fertility clinic run by Drs. Josef and Sonja Zech. The clinic is located in Tyrol. On their website, you can find useful information about in-clinic artificial insemination and its costs. The website also provides further details about the fertility clinic, its staff, and the services offered.
