Infertility is a condition that affects approximately 1 out of 6 couples. Female infertility is the inability to conceive (despite frequent intercourse) for over one year. Among all the factors, infertility among women accounts for nearly one-third of all infertility cases. It can be a cause of worry for women over the age of forty who are trying to conceive, but suspect themselves to be displaying the symptoms of infertility.

At KIMS Cuddles, we believe that information about this issue is your most valuable tool.

Symptoms of infertility

One of the most conclusive signs of infertility is that you are unable to get pregnant, despite having unprotected sex for more than six months and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Apart from that, here are some other visible symptoms of infertility:

1. Changes in menstrual and ovulation cycles may be one of the main symptoms of infertility. A menstrual cycle that is too long (more than 35 days), too short (less than 21 days) or irregular, might indicate that you are not ovulating.

2. Lack of periods (amenorrhea) indicate a problem with the female reproductive organs. Girls who haven’t begun menstruation despite reaching puberty and women who have missed at least three menstrual periods in a row are said to have amenorrhea.

3. Dysmenorrhea refers to painful periods, with cramps and pelvic discomfort every month during your cycle. It doesn’t, or rarely responds to over the counter (OTC) pain medication.

4. Changes in skin tone, dark hair growth on the lips, chest or chin; loss of hair and weight gain might indicate a hormonal problem which causes female infertility.

5. Pain or discomfort during intercourse, unusual discharge or soreness in the vaginal area, and milky white discharge from the nipples (unrelated to breastfeeding).

Causes of infertility

Infertility in women is caused due to various reasons such as problems in ovulation, damage to fallopian tubes or uterus, or even the woman’s age. Let us look at some of the causes:

1. Ovulation disorders – Ovulating infrequently or not at all, accounts for infertility in 1 out of 4 infertile couples. Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can cause hormonal imbalance, which affects ovulation. It is the most common cause of female infertility.

2. When the delicate balance between oestrogen and progesterone is disturbed by damage to hypothalamus or pituitary glands, it leads to hormonal imbalance. Infertility in such case is diagnosed by blood or urine test to measure the quantity of hormones circulated in the body.

3. Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes prevent the sperm from reaching the egg or block the passage of fertilized egg into the uterus. The damage may be caused due to Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and other preventable sexually transmittable diseases (STDs), previous surgery in the abdomen or pelvis, and Pelvic tuberculosis.

4. Endometriosis can also cause infertility symptoms. It occurs when tissue that normally grows in the uterus implants and grows in other places. This may cause blockage in the fallopian tube.

5. A previous ectopic pregnancy (where implantation has taken place on the walls of the fallopian tubes instead of the uterine walls) is another cause for female infertility.

Our team of doctors at KIMS Cuddles works with you, right from conception to postnatal care to ensure a safe mother and baby. We specialize in infertility treatment and provide a range of treatment options that cater to all kinds of infertility problems. The result is that you get one of the highest rates of success with us.

*The opinions expressed in this article are not to be substituted for medical advice under any circumstance.