Getting pregnant is not always as easy as it may seem. Lots of women need help to conceive. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that 6.7% of married women aged 15 to 44 struggle with infertility issues. This means that they may spend more than one year trying to get pregnant. Fortunately, professionals like Dr. Khalid Sultan can help couples conceive. Some of the most common causes of infertility include:
1. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
This is the most common cause of women's infertility. The hormonal condition results in the formation of cysts on a woman’s ovaries. It causes irregular periods and affects the entire cycle. Some women with PCOS may have no periods for several months at a time. About 10% of women within childbearing age have PCOS. However, more than half of them remain undiagnosed.
2. Endometriosis
Endometriosisis a condition that causes tissues lining up the uterus to grow in other parts of the body. The tissues may grow in the fallopian tubes or ovaries. Endometriosis causes the growth of scar tissue or irritation. Endometriosis does not only cause infertility but can also be very painful. It can cause pelvic inflammation, disrupt implantation, or block fallopian tubes.
3. Unhealthy Body Weight
Excessive weight or obesity may cause infertility due to abnormal ovulation. It also increases your risk of having a miscarriage. If you are underweight or have an eating disorder, you are at a high risk of having fertility issues. Fortunately, this is an issue that can be resolved by gaining or losing weight to attain healthy body weight.
4. Older Age
Many women have fertility issues after waiting too long to have a baby. In the United States, about 20% of women who wait to have children until over 35 may struggle with infertility. Almost a third of women struggling to have children are over 35. While a woman is in her 20s, about 90% of her eggs are normal. When she gets to her 40s, about 90% of her eggs are abnormal. Even though it is possible to get pregnant at an older age, the best time is when a woman is in her 20s.
5. Infections
Certain STIs, growth, and infections may cause infertility in women. They include chlamydia and gonorrhea. If they aren’t treated in time, the infections may cause your fallopian tubes to scar. They may cause a blockage that requires surgical attention.
6. Tubal Problems
If your fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, you will have fertility problems as they prevent sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg. They may prevent fertilized eggs from reaching the uterus. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are some of the most common causes of tubal issues.
Do you have trouble getting pregnant? You are not alone. Lots of healthy women struggle with fertility problems. Some of the most common causes of the problem include older age, ovulation problems, PCOS, infections, unhealthy weight, and endometriosis. Most of them can be treated if you have a good doctor.