The most common causes of decreased fertility in women include:
The advancing age
Fertility declines as a woman ages. Typically, the decline begins slowly at the age of 30 and accelerates around the age of 37. It is very rare that women approaching age 50 or older conceive of a child naturally because older eggs can not be fertilized or implanted or stimulated by drugs as easily as younger eggs. Older eggs also have an increased risk of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities in babies.
amenorrhea
Amenorrhea means the absence of menstruation. Two types of amenorrhea exist: primary and secondary. Primary amenorrhea is often diagnosed when a woman has no menstrual period before she is 16 years old. Secondary amenorrhea may occur when a woman has had menstrual periods, but menstruation stops for 3 to 6 months or more.
endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common problem that occurs when the endometrial tissue, which covers the inside of the uterus, is found outside the uterus. This displaced tissue can implant and grow anywhere in the body, but is most commonly found in the abdomen area.
Endometriosis affects every woman differently. Some women have no symptoms, others have intense menstrual cramps, abnormal uterine bleeding, pain during intercourse and other symptoms. Women with mild endometriosis may experience a lot of pain, while those with severe endometriosis may not feel anything.
Endometriosis can hinder a child’s conception by causing the formation of scar tissue or adhesions that attach the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and intestine together. These adhesions can interfere with the release of eggs from the ovaries or the displacement of eggs in the fallopian tubes, reducing the chances of becoming pregnant.
Your doctor may suspect that you have endometriosis based on your history and your pelvic exam, but additional tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis. The only valid diagnostic tool is often laparoscopy. Ultrasound and blood tests can also be used to confirm the diagnosis.\
Ovulatory disorders
Every month, the production of an egg that can be fertilized goes through a series of complex steps. Just one of these steps does not go as planned, and you will not be able to get pregnant. Many health problems can hinder or prevent ovulation, including:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Thyroid Gland Disorder
- Hyperprolactinemia, a hormone-related disorder that stimulates milk production and suppresses ovulation
- Low levels of fertility hormones (FSH and LH)
- Premature ovarian insufficiency
- Extreme weight loss or weight gain
- Excessive physical activity
- Eating disorders
A reduction in the quantity and quality of eggs makes it difficult to conceive of a child for a woman. Some women suffer from ovarian dysfunction well before menopause. Premature ovarian failure (PDI), or early menopause, occurs when a woman under the age of 40 stops producing eggs that can be fertilized. On average, natural menopause occurs at around age 51, but in women with PDI, menopause begins much earlier.
Ovulatory disorders are the most common cause of infertility in women. The good news is that many of these issues can be addressed.