Subfertility Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment: What You Must Know
1. Ovulation issues
- Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI): It is also known as premature menopause. In this condition, the ovaries fail before the age of 40. It can be due to either a medical condition or a previous treatment.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Women with PCOS may often but not always have multiple cysts in their ovaries or have hormonal imbalances such as excess androgens (male hormones) and insulin resistance. In PCOS, ovulation does not occur regularly, resulting in menstrual irregularities.
- Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR): Here, the ovary loses its normal production capacity leading to reduced egg count and occurs as a result of ageing.
- Hypothalamus and pituitary gland conditions: They may interfere with the ability to produce the hormones needed to maintain normal ovary function.
2. Abnormalities in the uterus
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- Double uterus: A condition in which the uterus has two small cavities, each with its own opening.
- Septate uterus: This is a condition where a band of tissue divide the uterus into two sections.
- Bicornuate uterus: This is a congenital abnormality where the uterus has two cavities instead of one and the uterus is heart-shaped.
- Fibroids: These are abnormal non-cancerous growths inside or on the uterus.
3. Obstruction in Fallopian Tube
- Endometriosis: It is a progressive, chronic condition where cells similar to those that line the uterus (the endometrium) also grow outside of your uterine cavity.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): It is an infection of the reproductive organs in women.
- Scar tissue: This could be from a previous surgery an onstruction in the fallopian tube.
- Gonorrhoea: It is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that if left untreated, may cause infertility.
4. Sperm production and delivery problem
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A proper medical examination will be able to ascertain the problem and your doctor will guide you with treatments accordingly.
Increased Risk Of Subfertility
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There are several factors that can increase your risk for subfertility. Most of them are in fact, the same for men and women.
- Female is over the age of 35
- Male is over the age of 40
- Overweight or underweight
- Smoking tobacco or marijuana
- Excessive alcohol use
- Excessive physical or emotional stress
- Increased exposure to environmental toxins, such as lead and pesticides
Subfertility causes: Diagnosis
When you are having a problem conceiving, then see your fertility expert for the right guidance and consultation.
The doctor will conduct a physical examination, including a pelvic exam for women and an examination of the genitals for men. They will also suggest a couple of tests.
Tests for women may include:
- blood tests to measure hormone levels
- The quality of eggs can be checked by ovarian reserve testing
- A transvaginal ultrasound will check the reproductive organs.
Tests for men may include:
- semen analysis
- blood tests to determine hormone levels
- testicular biopsy to identify any abnormalities
- genetic testings
Subfertility Treatment: What You Can Do To Conceive Faster
When you are subfertile, you know there is a delayed chance of conception. So your effort should be directed towards increasing the possibility of getting pregnant. For instance, adopt a healthy lifestyle and seek medical advice and treatments as needed. Here’s how you can begin.
Lifestyle changes
- Reduce caffeine as it is linked to subfertility in women
- Stop consuming alcohol
- Quit smoking
- If you are overweight or even underweight, make sure to maintain a healthy body weight
- Avoid saunas because as can affect sperm production and mobility
- Eat healthy foods that are rich in essential vitamins and nutrients
- Regularly exercises
Medical treatment
In some cases, you may need to seek medical treatment to either increase fertility or recover from a uetrine issue. Similarly, men might alos need to seek medical intervention, in some cases. Here are some of the options that may be suggested
Treatment for women
- Fertility drugs to regulate or induce fertility
- If you have uterine problems which are posing a hindrance on the way to your successful pregnancy, surgery may be recommended.
Treatment for men
- Medication to improve the testicular function, which includes sperm count and quality.
- Surgery to repair a testicular blockage
- Sperm retrieval techniques may be suggested to obtain sperm in males who have problems ejaculating.
ART Procedure
In case of issues with conception, the doctor may suggest assisted reproductive technology (ART). This fertility treatment or procedure handles both– the egg and sperm. It involves removing eggs from the woman’s body and mixing them with sperms to create an embroy. IVF is the most common ART procedure.
If you are facing fertility issues, its advisable to not wait too long and consult a doctor at the earliest. The process of trying to become pregnant can often be emotional and extremely stressful, especially if you have been unsuccessful for a long time. So its important to be proactive but also patient.
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