Fighting With Fertility
Millions of women decide to start a family each year. And while there’s fun in trying, the novelty wears off after months of failure. That’s when the thoughts of possible infertility come to mind. According to the CDC, 12% of American women have difficulty getting pregnant. For a successful pregnancy, a range of factors must line up. Even then, there is only a 1 in 4 chance of success. Often, there is an underlying health problem affecting fertility. Here are 3 common issues that affect fertility.
1. A fertility freezing tumor
Fibroids are smooth, muscular growths that develop in the uterus. Fibroids are non-cancerous and vary in each woman in terms of size, location, and number. Research suggests up to 80% of women have fibroids, but most cases are harmless and asymptomatic. However, there are types of fibroids, like submucosal fibroids, that can prevent pregnancy. A doctor can run a range of tests to confirm fibroids. From there, several surgical and non-surgical options can reduce or remove the growths.
2. Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease or PID is an infection that damages a woman’s reproductive organs. A subset of women with the infection may have impaired fertility as a result. Most PID cases are due to untreated sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia. Other cases can come from bacterial infections, which start at the vagina and spread to the uterus and ovaries. PID can cause scarring and damage the reproductive organs, making pregnancy difficult.
3. Obesity affects reproductive health too
Obesity has significantly increased over the years and has become a public health risk. Both women and men are in significant danger, with recent numbers trending to 40% and above. Obesity does not only put women at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and heart conditions. Overweight women have higher rates of miscarriage, poor ovulation, and infertility.
Get fertility support today
Fertility is a sensitive subject. Some women can conceive without issue. Other women feel broken due to constant failures to get pregnant. Rest assured, infertility happens to millions of women. Seek comfort in family and loved ones while facing the challenge. Often, there are one or more underlying health issues. Fibroids, PID, and obesity are some of several factors that prevent that bundle of joy. By seeking medical help, women can work with doctors to find out the root cause. From there, medical procedures and reproductive technology like IVF can help.