Female infertility is one of the causes of the difficulty of couples to have children. This condition can be caused by various problems in the female reproductive system, such as hormonal disorders and abnormalities in the reproductive organs.
A woman can be said to be infertile if she does not get pregnant, even though she has routinely had unprotected sex or has had a pregnancy program for 1 year or more.
Causes of infertility in women can vary, but generally occurs due to disturbances in the process of ovulation or the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovaries). When ovulation is interrupted, the egg cannot be released, making it difficult or impossible for sperm to fertilize it. As a result, pregnancy cannot occur.
Factors that Increase the Risk of Female Infertility
There are several factors that can increase a woman's risk of experiencing infertility or fertility problems, including:
Age increase
With age, female fertility will also decrease. This can be triggered by decreased egg quality and production. A study shows that the older a woman is, the lower her chances of having children.
It is estimated that about 95% of women aged 35 years will get pregnant after 3 years of having sex without contraception. Meanwhile, women aged 38 years or older only have a 78% chance of getting pregnant during the same time period.
Smoking habits and exposure to cigarette smoke
Smoking habits can also increase the risk of female infertility. Inhaled cigarette smoke can damage the female reproductive organs, such as the cervix or cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes or fallopian tubes.
Smoking can also increase a woman's risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
Inhaled cigarette smoke is also able to make the ovaries experience faster aging and deplete the number of eggs prematurely, making it difficult for pregnancy to occur.
More or less weight
Women who are overweight (obese) or even too low are at risk of experiencing infertility. Calculation of ideal body weight can be determined from the body mass index (BMI).
Therefore, always keep your weight so that fertility conditions are maintained and your chances of getting pregnant are even greater.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages
The habit of consuming alcoholic beverages in excess or in the long term is known to damage the body's organs, including the reproductive organs. Women who frequently drink alcoholic beverages are also more likely to develop ovulation disorders and endometriosis.
Therefore, avoid or limit the habit of consuming alcoholic beverages to maintain your fertility.
Stress
Excessive stress can affect the hormonal system in the body and the performance of the female reproductive organs. If not controlled, prolonged or too heavy stress can also affect female fertility.
Stress also often makes women less passionate about sex, thereby reducing the chances of getting pregnant.
Various Causes of Female Infertility
Female infertility can be caused by the following medical conditions or diseases:
1. Ovulation Disorders
A woman's fertile period is determined by her ovulation period. Therefore, when the ovulation process is disrupted, women will find it difficult to determine their fertile period or even cannot release an egg that is ready to be fertilized to create a pregnancy.
Ovulation disorders can occur for several reasons, including:
- Thyroid hormone disorders, including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Premature ovarian failure, which is when the ovaries stop producing and releasing eggs before a woman turns 40
2. Blockage of the fallopian tube
A blocked fallopian tube prevents sperm from meeting the egg in the uterus, so fertilization cannot occur. It is also a cause of female infertility.
Damage or blockage in the fallopian tubes can be caused by several conditions, namely:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- sexually transmitted disease
- History of surgery on organs in the abdominal or pelvic cavity, such as the fallopian tubes and uterus
- Etopic pregnancy
3. Postoperative scar tissue
A history of repeated surgery on the uterus or pelvis can cause scar tissue to form, thereby blocking ovulation. This can make it difficult for women to get pregnant.
One operation that can be performed repeatedly and has the risk of causing infertility in women is ovarian cyst surgery.
4. Cervical mucus disorders
Female infertility can also be caused by cervical mucus disorders. When you are entering your fertile period or ovulation, cervical mucus can make it easier for sperm to reach the egg in the uterus.
However, if there is interference with cervical mucus, it can make it difficult for sperm to fertilize an egg, thereby preventing pregnancy.
5. Congenital defects
Congenital diseases of the female reproductive organs are caused by genetic disorders. One example of congenital abnormalities that can make women infertile are: uterine septa, This is a condition when a septum is formed in the uterine cavity.
Women who experience this condition will experience repeated miscarriages or find it difficult to get pregnant. However, this condition can be treated by a doctor through a surgical procedure.
6. Submucosal fibroids
Submucosal fibroids is a benign tumor that grows in or around the uterine wall. When the uterine wall is overgrown with benign tumor lumps, the fertilized egg will be difficult to stick to the uterine wall. This can make it difficult for women to get pregnant and prone to infertility.
7. Endometriosis
Endometriosis can be a cause of female infertility. Treatment of endometriosis through surgical removal can cause scar tissue to appear. The appearance of this scar tissue can block the fallopian tubes and prevent fertilization of the egg by sperm.
8. Side effects omedicine
Female infertility can also be caused by the side effects of certain drugs, especially drugs used in the long term or in high doses. This is because these drugs can interfere with ovulation and egg production.
The following are some examples of drugs whose side effects can interfere with female fertility:
- NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen
- Antipsychotic drugs
- Spironolactone antidiuretic drug
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Illegal drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine
In addition to the various causes above, sometimes infertility or infertility in women also cannot be known for sure. In addition, the difficulty of having children can also be caused by other factors, such as fertility problems in men.
Therefore, to determine the cause of your infertility, the doctor should be able to perform a physical examination and supporting tests, such as blood and urine tests, ultrasound, and hormone tests.
If it can still be treated, the doctor may provide treatment through drugs, hormone therapy, or surgery to treat female infertility. In addition, to increase the chances of getting pregnant, the doctor may also recommend IVF.