Infertility in women
What is female infertility?
Infertility is the inability of a sexually active couple, not using any birth control, to get pregnant after one year of trying.
Infertility affects more than 3 million couples in the United States.
About 40% of cases are due to female factors, 30% are due to male factors, 20% are a combination of both, and in about 10% the cause is unknown.
For pregnancy to occur, several things have to happen:
• An egg must develop in the woman’s ovary.
• The egg has to be released each month into the fallopian tube (ovulation).
• A man’s sperm must fertilize the egg in the fallopian tube.
• The fertilized egg must be able to travel through the fallopian tubes and attach (implant) in the lining of the uterus.
If any of these events do not happen or are disrupted, infertility will result.
Infertility in women
What causes female infertility?
About one quarter of female infertility is caused by a problem with ovulation.
This can be due to an imbalance of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), an injury to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland (where these hormones are produced), pituitary tumors, or too little
or too much body weight.
Other hormonal conditions that can affect fertility include thyroid problems, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure (POF) and, occasionally, Cushing’s syndrome.
A woman’s ability to get pregnant can also be affected by:
• Age (decrease in the quantity and/or quality of the eggs).
• Problems with the reproductive tract (e.g., blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, benign uterine fibroids, and complications from surgery or infection).
• Sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia and gonorrhea).
• Medical conditions such as sickle cell disease, HIV/AIDS, and kidney disease.
• Smoking, drinking alcohol, or using recreational drugs (e.g., cocaine and marijuana).
• Medications such as antidepressants, tranquilizers, calcium channel blockers, narcotics, and anti-cancer drugs.
• Exposure to radiation, lead, toxic fumes and pesticides.
Infertility in women
How is infertility diagnosed?
Doctors usually begin with a medical history about your menstrual cycle, past illnesses, sexually transmitted
diseases and surgeries, and if you are taking drugs or have been exposed to
toxic agents.
The medical history is usually followed by a pelvic exam to make sure your reproductive tract (vagina,
uterus, and ovaries) is normal, and blood tests to measure your hormone levels. A semen analysis and a medical history of your partner will also be performed. Depending on what is
found in these tests, your doctor may also perform more specialized tests of your reproductive tract.
How is infertility treated?
Treatment of infertility depends on the cause, how long you’ve had the problem, and your age. It falls into two
main categories: One is to bring back fertility through medications or surgery, and the other is to use assisted reproductive technologies.
Fertility drugs (clomiphene citrate or FSH and LH hormone injections) are the primary treatment for women
with ovulation disorders. These treatments may also be used with an intrauterine sperm injection (IUI), which is when sperm is injected directly into the uterus.
Surgery may also be an option when the cause of infertility is blocked fallopian tubes or
endometriosis.
Other options for a couple to achieve pregnancy include assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such
as egg and embryo donation, mixing sperm with an egg outside the body (known as in vitro fertilization or IVF), or injecting a single sperm into an egg (known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection
or ICSI).
What should you do with this information?
If you are unable to get pregnant, you and your partner should be evaluated. A reproductive endocrinologist
can help to diagnose and treat infertility. To improve your chances, it is helpful to improve overall health by not smoking, not using recreational drugs, improving your diet and exercise habits, and treating chronic illnesses.
Infertility in women
What is acne - articles medical
What is female infertility?
Infertility is the inability of a sexually active couple, not using any birth control, to get pregnant after one year of trying.
Infertility affects more than 3 million couples in the United States.
About 40% of cases are due to female factors, 30% are due to male factors, 20% are a combination of both, and in about 10% the cause is unknown.
For pregnancy to occur, several things have to happen:
• An egg must develop in the woman’s ovary.
• The egg has to be released each month into the fallopian tube (ovulation).
• A man’s sperm must fertilize the egg in the fallopian tube.
• The fertilized egg must be able to travel through the fallopian tubes and attach (implant) in the lining of the uterus.
If any of these events do not happen or are disrupted, infertility will result.
What causes female infertility?
About one quarter of female infertility is caused by a problem with ovulation.
This can be due to an imbalance of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), an injury to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland (where these hormones are produced), pituitary tumors, or too little
or too much body weight.
Other hormonal conditions that can affect fertility include thyroid problems, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure (POF) and, occasionally, Cushing’s syndrome.
A woman’s ability to get pregnant can also be affected by:
• Age (decrease in the quantity and/or quality of the eggs).
• Problems with the reproductive tract (e.g., blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, benign uterine fibroids, and complications from surgery or infection).
• Sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia and gonorrhea).
• Medical conditions such as sickle cell disease, HIV/AIDS, and kidney disease.
• Smoking, drinking alcohol, or using recreational drugs (e.g., cocaine and marijuana).
• Medications such as antidepressants, tranquilizers, calcium channel blockers, narcotics, and anti-cancer drugs.
• Exposure to radiation, lead, toxic fumes and pesticides.
How is infertility diagnosed?
Doctors usually begin with a medical history about your menstrual cycle, past illnesses, sexually transmitted
diseases and surgeries, and if you are taking drugs or have been exposed to
toxic agents.
The medical history is usually followed by a pelvic exam to make sure your reproductive tract (vagina,
uterus, and ovaries) is normal, and blood tests to measure your hormone levels. A semen analysis and a medical history of your partner will also be performed. Depending on what is
found in these tests, your doctor may also perform more specialized tests of your reproductive tract.
How is infertility treated?
Treatment of infertility depends on the cause, how long you’ve had the problem, and your age. It falls into two
main categories: One is to bring back fertility through medications or surgery, and the other is to use assisted reproductive technologies.
Fertility drugs (clomiphene citrate or FSH and LH hormone injections) are the primary treatment for women
with ovulation disorders. These treatments may also be used with an intrauterine sperm injection (IUI), which is when sperm is injected directly into the uterus.
Surgery may also be an option when the cause of infertility is blocked fallopian tubes or
endometriosis.
Other options for a couple to achieve pregnancy include assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such
as egg and embryo donation, mixing sperm with an egg outside the body (known as in vitro fertilization or IVF), or injecting a single sperm into an egg (known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection
or ICSI).
What should you do with this information?
If you are unable to get pregnant, you and your partner should be evaluated. A reproductive endocrinologist
can help to diagnose and treat infertility. To improve your chances, it is helpful to improve overall health by not smoking, not using recreational drugs, improving your diet and exercise habits, and treating chronic illnesses.
What is acne - articles medical
