FEMALE INFERTILITY

     Infertility means that you can not get pregnant (conceive).

There are two types of infertility:

Primary infertility refers to couples who have failed to become pregnant after at least one year of sex without using contraception.

Secondary infertility refers to couples who have been able to become pregnant at least once, but now can not.

Causes

Infertility can be caused by many physical and emotional factors. It may be due to problems in men, women or both.

FEMININE INFERTILITY

     Female infertility can occur when:

A fertilized egg or embryo does not survive once attaches to the lining of the womb (uterus).

The fertilized egg is not fixed to the lining of the uterus.

The eggs can not move from the ovary to the womb.

The ovaries have problems producing eggs.

Female infertility can be caused by:

     Autoimmunitarios disorders such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)

modifying the reproductive tract birth defects

Cancer or tumor

Coagulation disorders

Diabetes

Excessive alcohol consumption

excessive exercise

eating disorders or malnutrition

Neoplasms (such as fibroids or polyps) in the uterus and cervix

Use of certain drugs, such as chemotherapeutic drugs

hormonal imbalances

Obesity

Advanced age

Ovarian cysts and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Pelvic infection or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Scarring following sexually transmitted infection, previous abdominal surgery or endometriosis

smoking

Surgery to prevent pregnancy (tubal ligation) or failure of tubal recanalization surgery (anastomosis)

thyroid disease

What causes female infertility?

     Approximately 25 percent of women with infertility ovulate rarely or never. These women often have irregular periods or not have them at all. Ovulation can be altered due to changes in the way the pituitary gland (a gland at the base of the brain) releases certain hormones. These hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (HFS), send a signal to the egg develops and the ovary releases it.

Among the problems that interfere with the normal release of LH and HFS are

lesions in the hypothalamus (part of the brain that works with the pituitary gland)

pituitary tumors

having too low or high weight

too much exercise

extreme stress

Other hormonal disorders that interfere with ovulation or affect fertility are

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism

diabetes

early menopause

sometimes, Cushing syndrome (a disorder that causes a very high level of cortisol, sometimes called "the stress hormone")

The ability to get pregnant also can be affected by age, since the number and quality of eggs gradually decreases from approximately 35 years. Other factors include

reproductive tract problems such as blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes, scar tissue in the uterine lining, polyps or fibroids in the uterus and endometriosis

sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, which can cause blockages of the fallopian

smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs such as cocaine and marijuana

certain medications such as antidepressants, tranquilizers, calcium channel blockers, narcotics and anti-cancer drugs

chronic medical conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, sickle cell disease, HIV / AIDS and hepatitis B or C

How is infertility diagnosed?

     Your doctor will begin with a medical history about your menstrual cycle, past illnesses, sexually, transmission surgeries and any medications you are taking.

The next step is usually a pelvic exam to make sure your reproductive tract (vagina, uterus and ovaries) is normal and blood tests to measure your hormone levels. In addition, it will take a medical history of your partner and will do a semen analysis. According to the results of these tests, your doctor may make them more tests, including one to ensure that the fallopian tubes of women are not blocked.

What is the treatment for infertility?

     Treatment for infertility depends on the cause and age. There are two main categories: one contributes to fertility drugs or surgery, and the other techniques used in assisted reproduction.

Fertility drugs (clomiphene pills, and injections of the hormone HFS and HL) are the main treatment for women with ovulation disorders. It is possible that women without a clear cause of infertility also use these drugs. Doctors sometimes combine drug treatment with intrauterine insemination (IUI), in which sperm are released into the uterus with a catheter (a thinflexible tube) is inserted into the vagina. IUI is made attime of ovulation.