In your 30s, you will be about half as fertile as you were in your early 20s. Naturally, your fertility gradually declines as you age, especially because your body produces low levels of reproductive hormones such as estrogen, and eggs become at risk of developing abnormal chromosomes. Also, as you age, you are more likely prone to problems that may affect your fertility, including endometriosis and uterine fibroids. If you have trouble getting pregnant for more than a year, consult Forest Hills, NY a private medical practice specializing in fertility issues, and learn more about the potential causes of your condition and treatment options. Your doctor will subject you to physical and pelvic exams and tests that evaluate the health of your various reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
Expect your fertility specialist also to review your medical records. Moreover, your doctor may want to test the sperm of your partner by taking into consideration things such as the shape, activity, and count of sperm.
The information collected from your infertility evaluation will help your doctor develop the right treatment plan, which may involve artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
If your doctor finds that you have an infertility problem, below are the potential causes.
- Failure to ovulate
Clinical studies show that if you have infertility issues, there is a 40% chance you do not ovulate. Ovulation is a process characterized by releasing of a mature egg from the ovary. After the release of an egg, it moves to and stays in the fallopian tube for about 24 hours. That provides a chance for the egg and sperm to come into contact so that fertilization occurs.
You may fail to ovulate if you have conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) affecting your reproductive organs. The failure to ovulate may also be due to endocrine disorders, including underactive thyroid.
- Menstruation problems
Menstrual disorders are problems that affect your normal menstrual cycle. Leading disorders may include absent menstruation, infrequent menstrual periods, heavy bleeding, and menstrual cramps.
Learn what a normal menstrual cycle entails to help you quickly identify if you have menstruation problems, which may indicate an underlying health issue.
- Reproductive system structural issues
One of the common conditions that may affect the structure of your reproductive system is endometriosis. This disorder involves the endometrium growing outside the uterus, especially in the fallopian tubes.
Endometrial tissues can block the fallopian tube and thus impede the movement of your eggs from the ovaries to the uterus and contact between eggs and sperm.
Other conditions that may also affect the structure of your reproductive system are uterine fibroids and polyps. Additionally, you may have uterus scarring or an irregularly shaped uterus that can interfere with implantation and your ability to carry a full-term pregnancy.
- Failure of eggs to mature
If you cannot produce healthy, viable eggs, you will have less chance of getting pregnant, and if you get pregnant, there is a higher risk of miscarriage.
The poor egg quality may be due to polycystic ovary syndrome, exposure to toxins (radiation or chemotherapy), chromosomal changes, or an autoimmune disease.
Contact Raveco Medical today to schedule an appointment with an infertility specialist and learn more about your condition.