While infertility can have a variety of causes, some symptoms that you may be experiencing curable infertility include not getting your period, having irregular periods, bleeding between periods, having extremely light and brief cycles, or having abnormal discharge and pelvic pain.
One in five heterosexual women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are unable to conceive after a year of trying unprotected penile-vaginal sex (CDC). Infertility is typically diagnosed by specialists after a couple has tried without success to conceive for a year (or 6 months if the person attempting to get pregnant is over 35 years old).
Although infertility is frequently quiet, occasionally your body will give you clues as to why you might be having problems getting pregnant. Call your doctor if you experience any of the five symptoms listed below. If they find a disorder that interferes with fertility, they will treat the underlying issue.
It’s crucial to remember that, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, 85 to 90% of infertile couples can conceive using standard treatment. Hence, even if you exhibit these symptoms of female infertility, treatment is probably available; therefore, consult a specialist at fertility clinic for assistance in getting started.
1. Missing your period
Your body may take a few months to normalize and resume ovulating after you stop using birth control. But if after three months you still don’t get a period, see a doctor. “No periods implies that a woman is not ovulating and has minimal chance to conceive without assistance,” explains Lorna Marshall, M.D., FACOG, a reproductive endocrinologist at Pacific NW Fertility in Seattle. “We prefer to use medicine to promote ovulation early in the process.”
To trigger ovulation, a daily pill called Clomid may be all that is necessary. If that doesn’t work, injectable drugs, intrauterine insemination (IUI), or in vitro fertilization are the next steps (IVF).
2. Uneven Periods
You might not be able to predict when or if you will ovulate if you don’t get your period on a regular basis. Dr. Sheeva Talebian, a reproductive endocrinologist at Reproductive Medical Associates of New York, states that irregular cycles are a sign of an underlying ovulatory issue and can make conception extremely difficult.
Dr. Talebian continues: “The reasons are similar to a complete lack of periods: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders, and hypothalamic amenorrhea,” in which the brain’s hormone-sending signals are faulty. While there can be a variety of causes for irregular periods, some of them may be the result of more serious conditions. A reduced ovarian reserve brought on by endometriosis or early ovarian failure may also be indicated by irregular cycles.
3. Periodical Bleeding
In most cases, bleeding should only take place during a woman’s menstruation. According to Dr. Talebian, bleeding in between periods or after sexual activity could be an indication of a cervical lesion, uterine polyps or fibroid tumors, or a uterine fibroid. In addition to the possibility of a problem related to pregnancy, a doctor should make sure that these symptoms do not indicate another, more serious condition, such as cancer, even if this is an extremely unlikely possibility.
4. Very Busy Times
Your menstruation is unusually heavy if you use more than one pad or tampon per hour for several hours, pass blood clots bigger than a quarter, or bleed for longer than seven days. Marcy F. Maguire, M.D., FACOG, a reproductive endocrinologist at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey, states that this might be an indication of uterine fibroids. Moreover, several bleeding problems or endocrine anomalies are linked to heavy periods. If fibroids prevent conception, they can be reduced in size or removed, and blood problems can be treated with medication.
5. Hip pain
A diagnosis of endometriosis may be made if you experience severe period cramps, pain throughout your cycle, or discomfort following intercourse. According to Dr. Maguire, endometriosis causes the tissue that should lining the uterine cavity to instead be located in the pelvic. “Endometriosis can result in pelvic structures becoming scarred, lowering fertility and raising the risk of ectopic pregnancy.” Dr. Marshall adds that because endometriosis may reduce a woman’s egg production, a quicker evaluation and course of treatment may be advised.
Having said that, pelvic pain coupled with a fever and an unusual discharge may indicate an infection, which if addressed, could leave you scarred. According to Dr. Marshall, a woman’s chance of tubal obstruction is significantly increased by pelvic infection. “Shortly after the couple begins trying to conceive, a test to determine whether the tubes are open should be done.”
6. Rapid and Brief Cycles
If your cycles are consistently very light or shorter than 18 days, it is likely that you are not ovulating or that you are not making enough progesterone to support a pregnancy if it does occur. While there are many causes for shorter cycles, if they are consistently very light or shorter than 18 days, it is likely that you are not making enough progesterone to support a pregnancy if it does occur. Your doctor will be able to do some tests to examine your hormone levels in order to identify whether there may be a problem that is hurting your capacity to conceive. This will allow your doctor to determine whether or not there is a problem.
If you are having difficulty conceiving after having unprotected penile-vaginal sex for a period of one year, or for a period of six months if you are 35 or older, the most important thing to understand is that you can seek medical assistance from a doctor. This is the most important thing to understand. In addition, it is imperative that you see a medical professional if you have any symptoms, such as missed periods, irregular periods, or bleeding in between periods.
