Infertility: Get Tested And Get Treated
What is Infertility?
Infertility can be defined as the inability to conceive within 12 months. It may be a difficult process for many people who try to get pregnant. Conception involves many factors that either facilitate or inhibit the process. Also, you may not be able to tell if there is an infertility unless you go see your doctor.
What are the common causes of infertility?
Advancing maternal age
Tubal occlusion
Poor egg quality
Non-release of eggs from ovaries
Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea
Uterine fibroids
Male factors affecting sperm function
What is ovulation and how does it relate to infertility?
Childbirth is a joyous experience whether it is your first time or not. Also, the upbringing and health of a newly born baby depends on how prepared the mother is in handling the task. It therefore boils down to experience. In fact, practical experience is a highly weighted factor defining a child’s health and upbringing, despite how much we have read or watched videos of childbirth.
It is important to first understand female reproductive system and its function during childbirth phases.
Ovulation is a reproductive event and a phase of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation occurs when an egg or ovum is released from ovaries. Conception occurs when the ovum gets fertilized by the male sperm as it travels down the fallopian tube. This sounds simple, right?
However, ovulation depends on the interplay of hormones and glands. This is one of the reasons some women may be unable to conceive.
What is the role of Hypothalamus in causing ovulation?
Hypothalamus gland affects ovulation by utilizing its hormones to communicate with the pituitary gland, known as the master gland of the endocrine system. An important outcome of this communication is that the pituitary gland produces follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Ovulation usually occurs within two days with high levels of LH which facilitate follicle maturation.
The cycle continues with mature follicles releasing ovum into the peritoneal cavity and then into the fallopian tube, and from there to the uterus. If the ovum does not encounter a sperm within 24 hours it dies.
Ovulation occurs two weeks before menstrual period starts once every month. Normally, this cycle continues until menopause or it temporarily stops for a period during pregnancy and childbirth.
During ovulation, cervical mucus undergoes certain changes. It gets slippery and slick. Also, ovulation may be associated with localized or generalized lower abdominal pain.
Women that follow natural family planning methods may have slight fever during ovulation. They may sometimes experience a delay or deviation of menstrual cycle, for example, from 28 to 35 days. Women in this group may mistake ovulation for premenstrual symptoms
Therefore, instead of playing guessing games, ovulation and pregnancy should be confirmed with kits available in the market or through blood tests or pregnancy ultrasound. Once sure there is ovulation, it is advisable to plan for pregnancy. If pregnancy has occurred, it is advisable to take precautions to avoid miscarriage or bleeding. Motherhood is something nature intended us to enjoy, and we should welcome it in all its cycles.
Infertility is both a health and social problem
Right from the beginning of times up to till now, infertility remains a pressing problem to individuals of all times.
Infertility is both a social and health problem that affects people irrespective of socio-economic status, religion, age, race and color. From medical perspective, infertility is a disease affecting the reproductive system. Infertility can be a big blow to the sanity of the affected partner(s). In fact it can impact negatively on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of partners.
On the one hand, couples feel all the happier when the news of pregnancy hits them. They feel almost complete by the mere thought that their beloved child is on the way. The husbands somewhat become more careful and more loving to their wives.
On the other hand, the expectant mothers are more health-conscious as they do want to ensure that their baby will be healthy. The moment of truth now lies in the couple’s capacity to conceive. Both partners may seem normal and healthy. But there are still millions of cases when fertility seems to be far within reach of plenty of married individuals.
Why the different strokes for different women?
There are a lot of factors which may bring about a difficulty in women’s fertility. Among the many reasons of infertility are one’s physical condition, age, and stress.
Also, some women are blessed with the gift of getting pregnant hassle-free while there are those who face traumas and a lot other difficulties to conceive. Women who don’t easily get pregnant must therefore face the fact that there are a lot of factors which may bring about a difficulty in their fertility.
How can infertility be confirmed?
So, are you experiencing difficulties in conceiving? Have you tried all methods but still your efforts are for nothing?
It may have been several years since you’ve tried conceiving but then there is no positive result that greets both of you. Now you should come to terms with understanding the truth that women are all different.
But to make things easy for you, the medical society makes available the necessary tools for you to take the fertility test.
What types of fertility test are available?
The fertility test allows you to know the very reason as to why you find it hard to get pregnant. Your doctor can perform a number of medical tests to detect infertility. Additionally, the doctor can prescribe some methods and procedures to help in getting pregnant.You may consult your most trusted fertility specialist for this matter.
Cervical mucus test
This is an important procedure a doctor can perform to help in conception. Your doctor may want to test the cervical mucus which plays an important role in conception. Cervical mucus enables the sperm to make it to the ovum (egg).
But the sperm will not be able to swim all the way to the egg in the absence of adequate cervical mucus. Also, if the cervical mucus is too acidic, it may kill the sperm before it gets to the egg. Therefore, it is important for the mucus to be alkaline.
In checking the cervical mucus, your doctor determines whether the mucus is curdled or clear. A curdled mucus shows there may be little or no chance of conception. On the other hand, clear and sticky mucus indicates great chances of conception
It is important to note that you should be having unprotected sexual intercourse up to a year before you begin to think of the possibility that you or your partner may be infertile.
Normally, conception may take a long time to occur, even among couples with no problems of infertility. At the minimum, a couple should have had unprotected, regular sexual intercourse for 8 to 10 months before thinking about the possibility of infertility.
However, try not to worry! Having had unprotected, regular sex and waited for this period of time without achieving conception, simple speak with your doctor about it.
Your doctor will help you with the next steps to take. This is the time to focus on the many tests and procedures that will help you and your partner achieve fertility and become parents that you so desire.
Transvaginal ultrasound
Ultrasound helps to evaluate uterine structure, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Also it helps detect abnormalities of the uterus such as polyps and fibroids. Similarly, it can detect distal fallopian tube occlusion and ovarian cysts.
Additionally, transvaginal ultrasound helps the physician assess the number of available eggs in what is known as antral follicle count.
Ovulation test
For the ovulation test process, your gynecologist will be looking into the regularity of your menstrual cycle. The tool to be used is called the ovulation prediction kit.
Hormonal assay
Various blood tests taken in diverse times are required for the hormone testing. The test is chiefly for the detection of the normal production of hormone. The test hence evaluates the quantity of progesterone you possess and if you will be able to sustain a pregnancy. One of the blood tests done is to verify your prolactin level. It is the hormone that produces the breast milk. Another test is to examine how your thyroid functions.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
HSG is important in checking fallopian tube patency. It also evaluates uterine filling defects such as polyps and fibroids, as well as uterine cavity scarring, referred to as Asherman syndrome. Note that surgery can correct uterine and tubal abnormalities detected by the HSG.
Semen analysis
The test is conducted on the male partner to see the quality and count of the sperm.
The fertility test is one way which helps your doctor detect where the problem lies. Getting pregnant may be possible when the mistake in your body system is corrected.
Microscopy, culture and sensitivity for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
This test is performed in order to detect the possible presence of these micro-organisms which are possible causes of infertility. They can be prevented but then its detection may be difficult. About 10 to 15 percent of chlamydia cases that are untreated may cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease may lead to a blockage of the fallopian tubes, which may prevent fertilization.
Conclusion
With a better understanding of infertility and what tests to do as outlined in this article, make sure you consult a fertility specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
Fertility tests reveal likely causes of your inability to conceive. This is an important step forward in solving the infertility problem. Once again, do not worry! Take time to understand the factors responsible for infertility, and surely finding a solution to your infertility may just be a breeze.
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