Top 10 Reasons For Infertility In Women

Statistics show that one in seven couples has to deal with fertility problems. You are said to have a fertility problem if you have been having regular unprotected sex for more than 12 months but in vain.

Infertility can be a pain especially when you have been trying for years and nothing seems to work. Diagnosing infertility can be devastating. And with one in 7 couples now being diagnosed with infertility, it has now become important to educate as well as manage fertility issues.

What a lot of couples may not know is that there are many natural ways to treat infertility. There are two types of infertility, referred to as primary and secondary infertility.

Reasons for infertility in women range from hormone levels to other underlying medical conditions.

Here are the 10 most common causes of infertility in women.

Ovulation disorders

Infertility is most commonly caused by problems occurring with the monthly release of an egg. While some ovulation problems can cause a woman to stop releasing an egg altogether, others can cause an egg to be released during some cycles, but not others. Ovulation problems may be a result of the following:

i. Polycystic ovary syndrome: A medical condition that makes it difficult for the ovaries to produce an egg.

ii. Premature ovarian failure: This is a condition in which a woman's ovaries cease to work before she turns 40.

iii. Thyroid problems: Both overactive and underactive thyroid gland can prevent a woman from releasing an egg.

2. Smoking: Smoking can increase the risk of infertility in both men and women. If you are getting treated for infertility, smoking may undermine the effects of the treatment. Even if the woman successfully gets pregnant, she is on a high risk of a miscarriage.

3. Age: Once a woman turns 32, her fertility levels start declining. A 35-year-old woman is significantly less fertile than a woman who is in her 20s.

4. Over consumption of alcohol: Pregnancy can be affected severely by excessive intake of alcohol. Moderate level of alcohol consumption has not been shown to lower the level of infertility. But women who already have a lower level of fertility are likely to further lower their prospects by drinking alcohol. Also, even if the woman does get pregnant, she is likely to give birth to a baby that has birth defects.

5. Obesity: In industrialised countries, overweight or obese women who have a sedentary lifestyle tend to be infertile. Being overweight and having a sedentary lifestyle act as principal factors in causing infertility.

6. Eating disorders: Those women who are extremely underweight or anorexic as a result of an eating disorder tend to run a higher risk of suffering from the inability to conceive.

7. Being vegan: This can be subject to extensive debate. According to science, someone who is a strict vegan runs the risk of infertility as they are deprived of nutrients that are present in non-vegetarian foods. These nutrients include iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamin B-12. Vegans must try to include these nutrients in their diet by taking them in the form of supplements. You must consult your doctor before you take the supplements.

8. Lack of exercise: Leading a sedentary lifestyle can be linked to infertility in both men as well as women. It is recommended that exercise should be a part of daily routine.

9. Over-exercising: In an attempt to exercise and have a healthy lifestyle, one may over-exert the body. Women exercising for more than 7 hours per day may have ovulation problems.

10. Stress: Female ovulation may be affected by mental stress. So, try to keep stress at bay as much as possible.