Couple who are trying to have kids all differ, and their chances of getting pregnant can be vastly contrasting. The number of couples who are unable to conceive is relatively high, but the statistics is not always attributed to different causes of infertility in women. Up to 37% of new healthy couples younger than 30 years of age are unable to have a successful pregnancy in the first three months of their partnership, while 15% are still unable to conceive after one year. Even with great efforts, some 10% still fail to become parents within two years. Can I get pregnant is often a question that goes through a woman’s mind.
Different f
actors play a role, but the ones that deserve more attention are the infertility causes in women. The would be mothers should
be asking themselves what is fertility? And how can we learn more about it. Learning more about more fertility can greatly increase your chances of getting pregnant. More than 48 million women all around the world are infertile, but the rate in Asia is not as high as the figure in North America. Still and all, it is a timely matter to discuss as prevention and cure are dependent on how well couples know about female infertility.
The causes of infertility in women are largely different from the causes in men. Nevertheless, there are similarities that couples may want to discuss with each other. Its commonly thought of, that your odds of pregnancy at 42 greatly decrease. Can I get pregnant if I have these problems? Its important to first be aware of the symptoms. Once you’ve addressed the symptoms, this can have a positive effect on your chances of conceiving. Even as far fetched as your chances of pregnancy at 50 can increase.
Causes of Infertility in Women (to raise awareness and increase chances of getting pregnant)
- Sexually transmitted infections
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), sexually transmitted infections are the leading causes of female infertility. Many of these infections are completely reversible, but the damage increases as treatment is delayed. Unfortunately, many infections are not diagnosed and treated right away due to lack of visible symptoms during the early stages.
- Malnutrition
As a cause of infertility, malnutrition is more common in South Asia and Middle and Sub-Saharan Africa. The consensus is that malnourished women also have an unhealthy reproductive system, which prevents them from conceiving. Even if they conceive, there is a low chance that the pregnancy will become successful. It all comes back to educating yourself on the matter, and the chances of getting pregnant will increase.
- Age
The peak of female fertility ends by the young age of 25. It starts to decline after that and the odds of unsuccessful pregnancy double by the age of 35. There has been no conclusive study done to determine the exact age in which a woman becomes totally infertile, but it is generally considered irreversible for most women by age 45-50.
- Smoking
Tobacco is much of a cause for women than for men because the nicotine and other chemicals in cigarette directly lower estrogen, a hormone essential for ovulation. Compared to non-smokers, smokers are at 60% higher risk. Smoking also affects the embryo and uterus, which makes them less efficient in handling conception. Miscarriage in pregnant women who continue to smoke is at 30%. Irreversible infertility is likely for women who have been smoking for more than a decade. This too, can be one of the direct causes of infertility in men as well.
- Weight problem
While obesity is a bigger factor in male infertility, overweight and underweight are both big problems in women. Too much body fat increases estrogen levels, which prevents pregnancy. On the other hand, too little body fat is directly associated with low amount of estrogen, which also makes conception almost impossible. The sensitivity of pregnancy in relation to body weight is very prevalent in the US that it accounts to 20% of all infertility cases among women.
Among overweight and underweight women who successfully get pregnant, 14% are expected to have still birth in comparison with those who have healthy body mass. The general consensus is that the heavier a woman gets, the lower her chance of having live birth. This can have a massive bearing on the chances of getting pregnant.
- Chemotherapy
Drugs used in chemotherapy are more likely to affect women than men, possibly because of hormone changes. Nevertheless, women normally can have options in the choice of drugs as replacements are usually available.
- Diabetes mellitus
A 2012 study published in the journal Human Reproduction Update shows that women who have diabetes are at high risk of infertility. The bigger problem is that getting treatment does not change the odds.
- Coeliac disease (CD)
Women with untreated CD are likely to be infertile while those who have been impregnated successfully are at high risk of still birth. This is reversible though, so a woman can have normal pregnancy once the disease is fully treated.
- Radiation
The ovaries obtain direct damage from radiation. Women who have undergone radiotherapy anywhere near their reproductive system are at high risk of having permanent infertility.
- Genetic factors
Women are more prone to genetic mutations than men, which also makes them at higher risk of infertility.
