The Causes and Treatment Options for Female Infertility
There are a number of causes of female infertility, but the good news is that your doctor has a very good chance of determining the cause for your particular problem. Once your infertility issue is diagnosed, you may well be on the way to an effective treatment plan that will bring you that much closer to the health pregnancy and baby that your heart desires. The first step is in understanding the many causes of female infertility, so that you can identify your medical problem and seek the appropriate treatment. Most doctors will recommend that if you are under the age of 39 and you have been trying to get pregnant for a full year, it is time to see your doctor to determine the cause of your female infertility.
Potential Causes of Female Infertility
There are many factors that can get in the way of a successful conception. One is hormonal factors that can wreak havoc with the ovulation process. There are numerous tests available that can detect hormonal issues, including a basal body temperature chart, an ovulation predictor test and blood tests that can evaluate hormone levels at different times during the monthly cycle. If hormonal issues are determined to be the cause of female infertility, treatment can include taking hormones orally to increase the chances of a successful ovulation and conception.
Another potential cause of infertility is damage to the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes are the means by which an egg will travel from the ovaries to the uterus. If an egg can’t make it to its final destination, conception cannot take place. Infections, endometriosis and surgeries all have the potential to cause damage to these tubes. This damage can usually be diagnosed with a variety of tools, and sometimes correction can be done with surgery. In other cases, treatment may involve extracting the egg directly from the ovary, fertilizing it outside of the body, and then transplanting it inside of the uterus. This will completely eliminate the need for healthy fallopian tubes as a part of the conception process.
In a small percentage of cases, the cause of the female infertility may never be known. In this case, you and your doctor will need to determine if there are good treatment options available, or if adoption or other means of having a family are a better solution. The good news is that with the many treatments available for female infertility today, your chances of successfully having a healthy baby are greater than ever before.