Take Control Of Infertility
For women and couples trying to conceive, every month without a positive pregnancy result can feel like an indictment. While most people view infertility as mainly a woman’s issue, the truth is that both genders contribute almost equally to difficulties conceiving. About a third of infertility cases in heterosexual couples are attributed to men, another third to women, and the final segment to issues in both members. Most people don’t realize an underlying problem exists until experiencing several unsuccessful months or years of trying to conceive.
Irregular periods
Having an irregular period isn’t a de facto sign that a woman has infertility. However, a menstrual cycle that fluctuates widely from month to month can make conception harder. Sometimes, being stressed or enjoying regular, intense workouts can be enough to shift a woman’s cycle. In other situations, underlying conditions that impact hormone levels, like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), can create frequent irregularity. The problem is that ovulation must be accurately tracked to time intercourse and ideally get pregnant. Women struggling with this issue are encouraged to get tested, as sometimes hormone medications can help regulate periods.
Poor sperm quality
Conception goals aren’t solely on female partners in heterosexual relationships. Poor sperm quality is one of the leading issues men will face regarding infertility. For issues with low sperm count or poor motility, fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), which injects sperm directly into the uterus during ovulation, might actually help overcome most problems. Yet, if structural or genetic quality is in question, a man might be encouraged to undergo a sperm DNA fragmentation test. The noninvasive procedure simply looks to determine if, within a semen sample, a high percentage of fragmented or damaged sperm are present. Sometimes taking hormone treatments can reverse the problem while other men might be encouraged to consider using donor sperm.
Repeated miscarriages
For some couples, repeated miscarriages are the telltale sign that physiological issues might be present. While a couple is able to technically conceive, either the embryo is unable to successfully implant in the uterine lining, or the pregnancy fails after a few weeks. In some cases, the culprit can be that the endometrial lining isn’t thick enough to sustain implantation or gestation. For these cases, a woman might undergo an endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA) to determine the current lining thickness and be prescribed hormones to help thicken the uterine lining before attempting to conceive again.
When to seek help
Repeated failed attempts at getting pregnant, not including miscarriage, is a clear sign that an issue might be present. Yet, depending on a couple’s age, the timeline for seeking help can vary. Experts agree that people under age 35 should get a consultation if pregnancy doesn’t happen after a consistent year of trying. Meanwhile, women over 35 have a shorter timeline of just 6 months.
Don’t delay support
Infertility might feel like an embarrassing topic yet difficulty conceiving is incredibly common. Working with a fertility specialist can sometimes mean a couple only needs to incorporate a hormone regimen or lifestyle changes to yield results. In other situations, a couple may need to consider assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments like IUI or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Don’t let embarrassment or shame cause delays in seeking support that would create effective solutions.
