Maria Williams Thu 03-Nov-22 15:11:41

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How do I know I am infertile?

Infertility for women under 35 is an inability to get pregnant after one year of trying; for women over 35, it applies after six months of attempting to conceive.

Causes and treatments of infertility

The causes of infertility vary widely, but the largest single diagnosis is on the guy’s side. “About 30 to 40 per cent of the time it’s a malefactor, so it’s important to make sure your partner gets tested at the outset because the most common problems are issues with sperm quality or semen volume, and varicoceles (tangled blood vessels in the scrotum).

Fallopian tube blockage

Women tend to face a wider variety of roadblocks on the way to conception. About 25 per cent of infertility issues are due to blocked tubes, which could be as a result of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or ectopic pregnancy. Another 25 per cent of issues are due to ovulatory dysfunction. The most prevalent problem is a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance that disrupts regular ovulation.

Abnormalities in the Uterus

Another 10 per cent of female-related infertility is attributable to abnormalities in the uterus that require surgical correction. These commonly include uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths within the uterus, or structural problems with the uterus. But in roughly 20 to 25 per cent of infertility cases, the cause is completely unknown. That means all tests are normal and the cause is likely related to age in one or both partners.

Before seeking medical help

Couples who have no known reproductive or hormonal issues and have intercourse before and at ovulation can wait up to a year before seeking medical help, but many experts like to see women between the ages of 30 and 35 after nine months of trying without any luck. “If you’re over 35 and it’s been six months, it’s time to take a look.