The causes of infertility are about 40 percent female, 40 percent male, and the remaining 20 percent are both male and female, or cannot be detected at all. Check what can be the causes of a woman's infertility? What causes you troubles getting pregnant?

Contents:

    1. Infertility treatment: research
    2. Female infertility: polycystic ovary syndrome
    3. Female infertility: endometriosis
    4. Female infertility: uterine fibroids
    5. Infertility in women: polyps
    6. Female infertility: pelvic inflammatory diseases
    7. Female infertility: ovarian failure
    8. Female infertility: hyperprolactinemia
    9. Infertility in women: previous operations

Female infertilityin about 1/3 of cases is the result of hormonal disorders and ovulation disorders. This may be anovulation (including menopause), inability of the egg to rupture, growth of an empty follicle, abnormal release of an egg from the follicle during ovulation.

Othercauses of infertility in womento:

      • inflammation in the pelvis and scarring changes in the fallopian tubes
      • endometriosis
      • uterine fibroids
      • defects of the uterus and its cervix
      • "hostility" of the cervical mucus (then it destroys the sperm)
      • Turner syndrome (a genetic disorder caused by a woman having one instead of two X chromosomes).
      • diseases of the pituitary gland
      • adrenal gland disease
      • thyroid disease
      • gonorrhea, chlamydia or other sexually transmitted diseases
      • obesity or excessive thinness
      • alcoholism
      • immune system disorders
      • hereditary diseases.

Women with irregular or missed periods caused by being overweight or underweight may have temporary fertility problems, but when weight returns to normal, the cycle usually stabilizes as well.

Infertility treatment: research

Testing a woman's fertility usually begins with the so-called ovulation tests to show that a woman is producing eggs properly. For this purpose, the level of sex hormones in the blood is tested,at appropriate times of the menstrual cycle. There are also a number of other hormonal tests, ultrasound examination of the reproductive organs (it may show some abnormalities in the smaller pelvis, e.g. fibroids or polyps in the uterus).

On the other hand, hysterosalpingography is a radiological examination of the uterus and fallopian tubes, after administration of a contrast agent, allows to determine, among others, the condition of the fallopian tubes patency. During this examination, the doctor may take a sample from the lining of the uterine cavity to detect any abnormalities that prevent the fertilized egg from implanting.

Another diagnostic method is laparoscopy, which allows you to see the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Female infertility: polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an increasingly common hormonal disorder in women during the reproductive years is the syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by hyperandrogenism (an excess of male sex hormones in the blood) and hence menstrual disorders, anovulation and, as a result, infertility.

An excess of male sex hormones, androgens, causes the follicle to die and cysts to form, which after many years lead to the formation of numerous cysts in the ovary. And, if there are a lot of them, there are difficulties in getting pregnant.

PCOS is probably caused by the disruption of an enzyme responsible for the production of male sex hormones in the ovaries and adrenal glands.

Female infertility: endometriosis

Endometriosis is an increasingly common cause of female infertility is endometriosis (endometrium - endometrium). In women with this disease, fragments of the endometrium migrate outside the uterine cavity. These fragments nest in other organs and tissues and grow there.

Most often in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, but also in such distant organs as the lungs and intestines. As endometrial cells moved elsewhere are subject to the same hormonal effects as the endometrium in the uterus, they peel off and bleeding occurs.

However, this blood cannot find its way out of the body, so cysts and adhesions form, which may lead to the sticking of all elements of the reproductive organ (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes). The result can be infertility and many other conditions.

Female infertility: uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are another fairly common cause of female infertility. These are benign tumors, also called fibromas. Doctors estimate that about 20-25 percent of women between the ages of 30 and 50 have itone or more fibromas. Myomas cause long periods, difficulty getting pregnant, and miscarriages. They are favored by hormonal disorders and genetic tendencies.

Infertility in women: polyps

Polyps (in the body or in the cervix) - are flat oblong mucosa structures that can appear anywhere in the body. Those that start in the womb can cause infertility and heavy menstrual bleeding.

Female infertility: pelvic inflammatory diseases

Pelvic inflammatory disease causes infertility in approximately 20 percent of women with pelvic inflammatory disease. About 75 percent of these conditions are caused by a sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Acute or chronic inflammation over time may lead to scarring, abscess formation, destruction of the fallopian tubes, and thus to the so-called infertility. mechanical. This type of infertility can also occur after an artificial miscarriage.

Female infertility: ovarian failure

In the case of premature ovarian failure, the stock of primary follicles in the ovaries is prematurely depleted (it may be caused, for example, by anti-cancer therapy, immunological factors). Although scientists have recently started to prove that the number of follicles in the ovaries is not given once and for all, they can form again, but this theory requires further research.

Female infertility: hyperprolactinemia

Hyperprolactinemia - high levels of prolactin in a woman's body may cause ovulation disorders, amenorrhea and difficulties in getting pregnant. Prolactin also has a direct effect on the gonads, reducing the secretion of progesterone in women (corpus luteum failure).

Infertility in women: previous operations

Surgical operations performed within the abdominal cavity (adhesions) can also cause infertility, cancer and systemic diseases (chronic nephritis, tuberculosis, thyroid diseases, liver diseases, hypertension). Even depression, chronic stress, leading to hormonal disorders can be a risk factor.

According to an expertdr hab. Aleksandra Jezela-Stanek, MD, specialist in clinical genetics

A genetic factor should always be taken into account in the diagnosis of female infertility. The basic test that will allow to exclude it - or confirm it - is the karyotype test. It enables a detailed look at all chromosomes in a given patient, determine their number, structure and detect possible changes in theirwithin, i.e. chromosomal aberrations.

Another no less important genetic test in the diagnosis of infertility in women is the test for thrombophilia. Mutations responsible for the increased tendency to blood clots, such as mutations in the prothrombin or blood coagulation factor V genes, not only have a negative effect on the entire circulatory system, but also lead to spontaneous abortions and other pregnancy pathologies.

Genetic tests recommended in the diagnosis of infertility can be mentioned many more. Their selection should always be made in consultation with a genetic practitioner. During a visit to the genetic clinic, the specialist will also assess the phenotypes of both partners and see the results of previous tests. It may turn out that completely different genetic syndromes will be responsible for the patient's infertility, which will have to be excluded by performing further tests.

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Pregnancy