Causes of Female Infertility in Texas
What are the most common causes of infertility in women?
Infertility Due to Age
Age-related infertility is one of the biggest challenges that our patients have to face. A woman’s fertility declines rapidly in her mid-30s due to a combination of lower egg quality and quantity. A short menstrual cycle can be one of the first signs of age-related infertility. A cycle length of 25 days or shorter should alert a woman of a decreasing egg reserve and prompt her to seek help early.
Infertility Due to Low Ovarian Reserve
When your ovaries do not produce a normal amount of eggs, this is known as low ovarian reserve. Your egg reserve plays an important role in determining your ability to become pregnant. Before recommending a fertility treatment protocol, we will assess your ovarian reserve through advanced female fertility testing. If it turns out that your egg reserve is low, we will recommend a special treatment protocol that can be tailored to your unique situation to help you to conceive.
Infertility Due to Anatomical Issues
Sometimes, issues within a woman’s reproductive anatomy can be the culprit of infertility. A history of heavy menses with passage of large clots can suggest the presence of growths that distort the uterine cavity, while a history of STD or pelvic surgery can increase the risk of having tubal disease or pelvic adhesions. At IVFMD, we offer various female fertility tests that can help to detect anatomical abnormalities, such as fibroids and polyps, and blocked tubes.
Infertility Due to Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal causes of female infertility are suspected whenever the menstrual cycles are irregular. Cycles that are longer than 32 days have been associated with implantation failure and miscarriages caused by low progesterone production. Common causes of abnormal ovulation include stress, thyroid problems, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). At IVFMD, we can perform blood tests to help pinpoint and correct hormonal abnormality. Most hormonal causes of female infertility can be easily treated with medications.
Infertility Due to Endometriosis
Endometriosis is one of the common causes of female infertility. While the classic signs of endometriosis are painful periods and painful intercourse, these symptoms can be absent in many women with endometriosis. Endometriosis lesions can cause pelvic adhesions and blocked tubes, and their secretions have been shown to impair fertilization. Endometriosis is most reliably detected by laparoscopy, an outpatient operation in which a scope is introduced into the abdominal cavity under general anesthesia to examine the pelvis.
Infertility Due to Lifestyle Factors
Your fertility can be affected by numerous lifestyle-related factors, such as nutrition, weight, activity levels, stress, environmental toxins, substance abuse, or medications. A comprehensive fertility assessment may be required to pinpoint the specific causes of your infertility. Upon evaluation of your fertility, our physicians will recommend a treatment protocol to help you optimize your lifestyle to enhance the likelihood of becoming pregnant.
Learn more about common causes of infertility
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining inside of your uterus grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis can be painful, especially during your time of the month and can lead to fertility issues. Learn more about getting pregnant with endometriosis.
PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and treatable hormonal disorder among women who are of a reproductive age. Completing a female fertility assessment with our specialists at IVFMD can help determine whether a specialized PCOS fertility treatment is right for you.
Low Ovarian Reserve
A low ovarian reserve, meaning you have less eggs than the average female your age, could be why you are having trouble getting pregnant. If you are struggling to get pregnant and are suspicious of or have been diagnosed with a low ovarian reserve, our fertility specialists at IVFMD can help.
Why can’t I get pregnant?
Our fertility specialists are here to help you find the answers. Start by asking yourself these questions:
Do you have irregular periods?
Short cycles (26 days or shorter) can indicate the potential for low egg reserve (aging ovaries). Long cycles (32 days or longer) are typically associated with stress (emotional or physical) and are easier to treat with medications. Spotting for 2-3 days before menses can indicate low progesterone production from suboptimal ovulation.
Do you have excessive facial or body hair, weight gain or milky breast discharge?
These symptoms can indicate hormonal imbalances that can affect your body’s ability to ovulate correctly. These symptoms are often connected to polycystic ovary syndrome and thyroid conditions.
Have you previously been diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or STDs?
Diseases affecting the reproductive areas of the body, such as chlamydia, HPV, herpes, syphilis, trichomonas, or PID often require treatments that can cause tubal damage and/or pelvic adhesions.
Have you had an abdominal operation?
Prior abdominal operations such as appendectomy, myomectomy and tubal surgery can result in pelvic adhesions and tubal problems, which can damage female reproductive capabilities.
Have you received treatment as a result of an abnormal PaP smear?
Prior abnormal PaP smears with cervical treatment, such as conization, cryosurgery or LEEP can result in constriction of the cervical opening, which can inhibit the movement of sperm into the uterus.
Have you experienced pain during menstruation or intercourse?
Severe pain during menstruation, and especially during intercourse, can be a sign of endometriosis. Endometriosis can lead to scarring of the pelvic structures, thus impairing the fallopian tubes’ ability to pick up the egg.
Do you have a heavy menstrual flow?
Heavy menstrual flow (with clots) can indicate abnormalities within the uterine cavity, such as fibroid tumors or polyps. These lesions can prevent embryo implantation through their destabilizing effect on the endometrium.
Have you experienced recurrent miscarriages?
Recurrent miscarriages can be caused by irregular ovulation, abnormal embryo or parental chromosomes, and abnormalities of the uterus, among other causes. Female fertility testing is often required to pinpoint the specific causes of recurrent miscarriages.