Lesson
1: Suspecting and Diagnosing Infertility
Reasons to Suspect Infertility
Let
me again remind you what infertility is not:
- Infertility
is not when you can't get pregnant after trying for a couple of
months.
- Infertility
is not when you fail to conceive after having sex once a month
on day 14.
- Infertility
is not a woman's problem.
- Infertility
is not all in your head.
- Infertility
is not caused by stress alone.
With
the above out of the way, let's take a look at some of the reasons
to suspect infertility.
- Pregnancy not achieved after 12 months of unprotected, well-timed
intercourse.
- Irregular periods
- Cycles shorter than 24 days or longer than 36 days
- Recurrent pregnancy loss
- History of STD or PID
- First period occurred at age 14 or later
- Women 35 or older, trying for 6 months or longer without success
- Mumps or chicken pox after puberty
- Undescended testicle
- Painful periods (can be a sign of endometriosis)
- Family history of infertility
Irregular
periods, late first period, short cycles, and long cycles can all
be warning signs of ovulatory disorders. Ovulatory disorders include
a lack of ovulation, irregular ovulation, and luteal phase defects.
Ovulation problems can be caused by several things including excessive
weight, lack of appropriate body fat (underweight), thyroid disorders,
hormonal imbalances, PCOS, and higher than normal amounts of prolactin.
STD's,
if not treated, can cause infertility by scaring the reproductive
organs of both men and women. When an STD travels into the uterus
and fallopian tubes of women, it can cause PID. About 13% of one
time cases of PID result in infertility, and those women that have
had PID three times have a 75% risk of resulting in infertility.
This is why it is so important to protect yourself against getting
an STD.
As
women age, their fertility declines until they finish menopause,
at which time they will no longer produce any eggs. It is thought
that a woman's fertility begins to decline as early as the late
20's, but it does not become an issue until the woman has reached
the age of 35 or 36. The reason for only trying for 6 months at
this age or older is because of the time involved and needed for
infertility diagnosis and treatment.
Mumps
and/or chicken pox in males after puberty can cause reproductive
problems resulting in low or no sperm production. If the male has
not had chicken pox or mumps during childhood, this should be discussed
with the doctor. If the male has or had an undescended testicle,
this can also cause low or no sperm production.
Painful
periods alone are not usually a cause for concern about fertility.
However, if the pain is moderate to severe, this should be seen
as a warning sign that needs to be examined and discussed with your
doctor. You and your partner should also discuss any family history
of difficulty conceiving that is known with each other and with
your doctor.
You
should be aware of the warning signs, but do not assume that because
you have one or even two of them that you are infertile or will
have a problem conceiving. The good thing to know is that about
85% of couples have no problems and conceive during the first year
of trying.
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