It is estimated that globally between 60-80 million couples suffer from infertility every year, of which probably between 15- 20 million are in India alone says ICMR Bulletin. It could be very disappointing every month to get a negative pregnancy test especially when you are trying hard to get pregnant. But before assuming that in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be the only option, it’s important to know some of the very common causes of infertility.
Dr. Shobha Gupta, IVF Consultant at Mothers Lap IVF Centre is pointing out five possible facts why you might be struggling with infertility and what you can do about it.
1. You don’t have enough healthy eggs: You’re born with a fixed number of eggs but the number and health of your eggs declines as you get older. In fact, a healthy and fertile 30-year-old has only 20 percent chances of getting pregnant each month, according to a report published in American Society for Reproductive Medicine. If you are consuming fertility drugs then number of eggs further decreases.
What to do: Optimizing egg health is a key, so gets to a healthy weight and if you smoke, quit now, said Dr. Shobha Gupta, IVF Consultant at Mothers Lap IVF Centre. Do not consume drugs for egg formation without IUI and IVF. Consult a good fertility centre and try to complete your family before 35 years of age.
2. It’s your partner’s problem: Male infertility is responsible for up to one-third of infertility cases. If your partner is overweight, alcoholic or a smoker, it could be affecting your chances of getting pregnant. An infection or inflammation of the prostate glands might also be the cause, says Dr. Shobha Gupta.
What to do: Losing weight and quitting smoking are the keys, but it’s also important for your partner to see his doctor for a physical and a semen analysis. Medication, Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF are options depending on the problem. Take lots of citrus fruits and anti-oxidants.
3. You don’t ovulate: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can cause irregular menstrual cycles and an increase in male hormones, affects about 5 to10 percent of women and is one of the most common reasons that women don’t ovulate. Women with infrequent menstrual periods, increased growth of hair on face, chest, stomach etc are likely to have PCOS. In addition, being overweight, obese or underweight, alcoholic as well as having a thyroid imbalance, can affect ovulation.
What to do: One of the best ways to improve your fertility is to have a healthy weight, according to Dr. Shobha Gupta. It’s also important to be screened for polycystic ovary syndrome and rule out other medical conditions. If you already know you don’t ovulate, consult Infertility specialists for it.
4. Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a medical problem or a common disorder that has emotional consequences for women. This disorder is currently affecting about 89 million young women in the reproductive age group worldwide, out of which 25 million are Indian women. It causes the lining of the uterine cavity to appear in the abdominal cavity, which can cause painful periods, heavy bleeding, and infertility in 30 to 50 percent of women. You can say that it is the main reason for stomach pain and inability to conceive in women between 25 to 30 years of age, Dr. Shobha said.
What to do: Getting pregnant is already a challenge with endometriosis, so seek treatment as soon as you plan to get pregnant, Dr. Shobha said. Young women with endometriosis who want to conceive may require specialized treatments like IUI or IVF (test tube baby).
5. Your fallopian tubes are blocked: When the fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, tubal factor, which accounts for about 35 percent of infertility, occurs. Tubal factor infertility can be caused by a previous surgery, endometriosis or an STD. Sexually transmitted diseases, especially Chlamydia, years later will contribute to tubal factor infertility, Dr. Shobha said.
What to do: We have to make sure that the tubes are open, otherwise there’s no way for sperm and egg to communicate, Dr. Shobha said. Your doctor can screen for tubal factor with an x-ray and if the tubes are blocked, IVF is the best treatment.
