A national survey by the CDC suggests that more than 6% of married ladies in the USA are infertile. The numbers from other studies also paint a similar picture, and this shows that it is a prevalent and severe problem. Organizations like the WHO and ACOG (American College of Obstetricians) recognize it as a disease which they define as an inability to conceive after a year of unprotected sex (or after six months for ladies over 35).
Most women dream of becoming mothers at some point, but fertility problems make it impossible for many of them. There are treatment options available, but it is important to understand the factors that affect a woman’s fertility so as to know the best way to deal with the problem.
#1 Genetics
Just like with most other health issues, genes influence fertility strongly. Genes affect everything from a woman’s ability to conceive to the onset of menopause. In fact, studies show that ladies whose mother or grandmother experienced early menopause are up to six times likely to have it early too. Recent research at Stanford University also reveals that there exists a link between some kinds of genetic markers and hormone levels, and this suggests that genetics may preset fertility and reproductive lifespan of a woman.
#2 Age
Age is the most crucial factor that influences fertility. To state it simply, the older you get, the more laborious it becomes to conceive. When young, ladies have all their eggs, and they will not get any extra ones as they grow, but their quality and quantity will reduce. Women in their 20’s have up to 90% chance of becoming pregnant, but this reduces to a mere 15% after their 45th birthday.
#3 Fallopian Tube Disease
RESOLVE (The National Infertility Association) estimates that close to 20% of all infertility cases are as a result of fallopian tube disease. Different conditions can affect the fallopian tube, but blockage and scarring are the most common ones. These problems are as a result of pelvic inflammatory diseases, STDs and some kinds of surgeries.
#4 Weight
Being overweight or underweight can also affect a woman’s fertility. Any weight that is 15 percent above the recommended will lead to excessive production of estrogen which affects the reproductive cycle. Being underweight 10 to 15 percent below the healthy weight can result in impairment of a woman’s reproductive process.
#5 Stress
It is a fact that both emotional and physical stress has a tremendous effect on reproduction. For ladies, it can cause amenorrhea (absent periods), and studies show that it also has an effect on the hormones that regulate the flow of blood to the uterus, which in turn causes conceiving issues. The failure to conceive despite all the effort that ladies put into it also increases the stress levels and hence making the fertility problem even worse.
