Signs of Infertility in Women

In medical terms, infertility in women is defined as the inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. In an age when most women set career as their first priority, the statistics of infertility increases significantly. This is because, a woman older than 35 years has lower chances of producing healthy eggs than those who are in their early 30s. As per a European study, the fertility of a woman decreases when she attains 27 years.

The leading causes of infertility in women are ovulation disorders. Other than these, there are certain risk factors of infertility in women such as endometriosis, sexually transmitted disease (STDs), hormonal imbalance, pelvic infection, ovarian cysts, etc. And it is observed that more than 30 percent cases are due to male factor. In about 10 percent couples, the reason of infertility is not identified. Understanding the signs of infertility in women will help in addressing the problem as soon as possible.

Infertility in Women

Needless to mention, the most noticeable sign of infertility in women is failure to become pregnant or bear child. In all cases, the symptoms of infertility in women depend upon the underlying medical cause. Following are some of the infertility causes in women along with their associated signs and symptoms:

Irregular Menstrual Cycle
Irregular menstruation is found to be a common warning symptom among infertile women. Some may get repeated periods in a month, while others may not experience once in a month. Thus, women who have a relatively short menstrual cycle (less than 24 days) or long cycle (longer than 35 days) should seek medical advice while planning for pregnancy.

Excessive Bleeding
Although excessive bleeding is a sign shared by women who are diagnosed with infertility, it is not an necessary infertility symptom. Nevertheless, those who are trying to become pregnant should not neglect this factor, as it may be a warning indication of infertility. Similar to heavy flow, very light bleeding may also signify infertility.

Painful Periods
Painful cramps during periods, significant changes in blood flow from one month to another and fluctuation in bleeding period (bleeding for 3 - 7 days is normal) are all possible signs of infertility in women. These factors may interfere a woman while trying to conceive or bear child for the normal term.

Fallopian Tube Blockage
Though blockage of the fallopian tube is not actually an infertility symptom. It is a concerning issue that either results in infertility or ectopic pregnancy. Because of a blocked tube, fertilization of the sperm and egg is almost impossible, resulting in infertility. Usually asymptomatic, fallopian tube blockage is mostly caused due to sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Miscarriages
A miscarriage refers to loss of fetus before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Repeated miscarriages are also considered as a symptom of infertility in women. It is caused due to genetic conditions or problems in the reproductive system of the woman. As per medical data, 50 percent out of all pregnancies (known or unknown by the woman) end in miscarriage.

When to Consult a Gynecologist for Infertility?

A woman who come across any of the signs of infertility is imperative to take medical attention. Taken at a glance, infertility is like a nightmare that affects the mental health of most women who have been through with it. Nevertheless, as with any medical problem, timely diagnosis and correct treatment are practical solutions, while dealing with infertility in women. In case, a woman is not able to conceive within 12 months of unprotected intercourse or 6 months (if older than 35 years), then she should seek medical advice.

With counseling sessions and correct therapeutic intervention, the signs of infertility in women can be treated in maximum cases. On the brighter side, many couples (approximately 90 percent) with infertility issues are being addressed successfully. To minimize the risks of becoming infertile, it is best to attempt pregnancy within first year. In addition, a woman needs to control her weight and stay healthy to maintain a trouble free pregnancy.