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What is Infertility (Female)? |
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Symptoms
Up to fifteen percent of couples are infertile to a certain extent, and out of all of these, female infertility is the reason for about half of the cases. The primary symptom of female infertility is an inability to conceive a child, despite frequent attempts to get pregnant with unprotected intercourse. The female may also experience an aberration in her menstrual cycle (one which is either too brief or too prolonged); this may be a sign of infertility. Apart from these, there are no obvious or outward indications of the condition.
Causes
The process of reproduction is quite complicated, and every step must occur at the right way and at the right time in order for the couple to successfully conceive. In female infertility, there are several conditions which can interfere with this process at any point. Ovulation disorders are the reason for twenty-five percent of cases, and may be caused by dysfunctions in the secretion of the reproductive hormone, either from the pituitary or the hypothalamus. Sometimes the problem lies within the ovaries themselves. Ovulation disorders occur when the female seldom ovulates, or she doesn’t ovulate at all. The fallopian tubes may also be damaged due to an STD or an ectopic pregnancy, and the path for the egg-sperm union is obstructed. A condition called endometriosis, wherein tissue which should grow in the uterus appears in other locations, also causes female infertility once scarring occurs as a result of surgery. Tumors in the uterus and obstructions in the cervix contribute as well.
Diagnosis
Numerous tests may be performed in order to determine a woman’s fertility rate. Levels of the ovulation hormone progesterone may be tested with OTC kits, or lab tests may be conducted to assess the condition of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. A Hysterosalpingography checks the size and contours of the uterus, and determines if the fallopian tubes are open. Laparoscopy can be performed to check for aberrations in the ovaries and fallopian tubes; this is an outpatient (though invasive) procedure which makes use of a fiber optic telescope. Patients who are suspected of having a reduced egg supply may undergo a battery of blood and imaging exams, and the levels of certain hormones (FSH, prolactin) may be tested in order to determine if an undetected condition may be causing the infertility.
Treatment Info
The treatment options for infertility are based on the patient’s age and preferences, as well as to the cause of the condition and the length of time the patient had it. One way of restoring fertility is through the stimulation of the ovaries with medication. The drugs work just like the body’s reproductive hormones (FSH and LH), triggering an ovulation, and even causing an increased chance for the female to bear more than one child at the next conception. Clomiphene citrate, ganadotropins, metformin, and aromatase inhibitors are the usual medications prescribed for this purpose. The aberration to the female reproductive system may also be corrected either with tissue removal or through a tubal operation, or lab procedures may assist in conception through in vitro fertilization.
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