This is the second post in the infertility series and as the title suggests, I will be discussing ovulation problems causing infertility. Ovulation disorders are the most common cause of female infertility,it is estimated to account for nearly 25% of cases.
Ovulation is the monthly release of egg from the ovaries, if conditions are favourable, this egg will become fertilized by sperm resulting in potential conception.
In no particular order I've split factors into different headings to make it easier to follow.
Weight, drugs and alcohol
Excess weight can affect fertility as it causes influences hormonal regulation which can cause infertility but this can also be influenced by being underweight so maintaining a healthy BMI or as close enough as possible is important for fertility. If you're unsure what is healthy for you then visit here. Some drugs( prescribed or illicit) can also have a negative effect on fertility. Some women who might have had chemotherapy as part of their treatment for cancer may have undergone premature menopause as a side effect. Alcohol also has a negative impact on fertility.
Thyroid problems
So do you know what your thyroid gland is? It's a gland in the neck that secretes a hormone called thyroxine which helps regulate growth and development.
Thyroid problems are the most common endocrine disorder seen in endocrinology clinics in Nigeria (Salami et al 2016). Too much or too little of this hormone can prevent ovulation. The scope of thyroid disease is wide as it usually presents with multi-system symptoms and I will do a post on this in the future.
Premature Ovarian Failure
Premature ovarian failure is when a woman's ovaries stop working before she turns 40. It affects about 1% of women in Nigeria (Okeke et al, 2013) which given the population size is a significant number of women.Causes include chemotherapy as earlier mentioned, surgery which involved removal of the ovaries, genetic causes, infections or autoimmune disorders.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
This is the biggest culprit in this category. It is the most common hormonal reproductive disorder affecting women of childbearing age.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects how your ovaries work.
Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and not all women have the same range of problems.
Treat the cause if treatable !
In the case of thyroid problems and weight, often fertility is restored once these causes are addressed however a thorough medical check is required to ensure no other contributing factors are missed.
You can still conceive with PCOS and usually the first step is weight loss. Fertility specialists are likely to prescribe a drug called Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid) to stimulate ovulation, if this does not work, they can try some other agents.
In some women, ovulation is no longer possible and these women will usually be recommended for IVF but that is past the scope of this post.
Are you not ovulating or are your periods irregular? Do you have some of the symptoms described above? Ovulation disorders are the most common contributory factors to Infertility and the most important step is correctly Identifying and managing these causes.
This post does not replace a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner as Infertility diagnosis and treatment is quite sensitive and complex. All treatments should be carried out with specialist monitoring and follow-up.
Thank you for reading, any comments, questions or suggestions ? click the comment button!and don't forget to share with other women...It's about taking control of our health.
Ovulation is the monthly release of egg from the ovaries, if conditions are favourable, this egg will become fertilized by sperm resulting in potential conception.
In no particular order I've split factors into different headings to make it easier to follow.
Weight, drugs and alcohol
Excess weight can affect fertility as it causes influences hormonal regulation which can cause infertility but this can also be influenced by being underweight so maintaining a healthy BMI or as close enough as possible is important for fertility. If you're unsure what is healthy for you then visit here. Some drugs( prescribed or illicit) can also have a negative effect on fertility. Some women who might have had chemotherapy as part of their treatment for cancer may have undergone premature menopause as a side effect. Alcohol also has a negative impact on fertility.
Thyroid problems
So do you know what your thyroid gland is? It's a gland in the neck that secretes a hormone called thyroxine which helps regulate growth and development.
Thyroid problems are the most common endocrine disorder seen in endocrinology clinics in Nigeria (Salami et al 2016). Too much or too little of this hormone can prevent ovulation. The scope of thyroid disease is wide as it usually presents with multi-system symptoms and I will do a post on this in the future.
Premature Ovarian Failure
Premature ovarian failure is when a woman's ovaries stop working before she turns 40. It affects about 1% of women in Nigeria (Okeke et al, 2013) which given the population size is a significant number of women.Causes include chemotherapy as earlier mentioned, surgery which involved removal of the ovaries, genetic causes, infections or autoimmune disorders.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
This is the biggest culprit in this category. It is the most common hormonal reproductive disorder affecting women of childbearing age.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects how your ovaries work.
In a normal cycle, about 5-6 follicles start the maturation process during each monthly cycle culminating in the release of 1 mature egg at ovulation. In a polycystic ovary, at least twice as many follicles start the process and most of them mature but no egg is released or an egg is released less frequently. It is estimated that nearly a third of women have PCOS. PCOS cannot be cured but symptoms can be managed.
| Image:Quora.com |
Causes of PCOS
- Genetics have been found to play a part as it has been found to run in families
- Having higher than normal levels of the hormone insulin in your body is linked to PCOS and higher levels of Insulin is found in women who are Obese.
- Extra insulin causes an imbalance in the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle. Too much luteinising hormone (LH) is produced compared with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).This causes your follicles to produce more of the male hormone testosterone and high levels of testosterone prevents ovulation
Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and not all women have the same range of problems.
- Irregular or no periods
- Lack of premenstrual symptoms such as bloating or breast tenderness.
- Infertility
- Extra hair growth on your face, chest and belly (PCOS)
- Depression or mood swings
- Weight gain
- Thinning hair or hair loss
- Oily skin or acne
Treat the cause if treatable !
In the case of thyroid problems and weight, often fertility is restored once these causes are addressed however a thorough medical check is required to ensure no other contributing factors are missed.
You can still conceive with PCOS and usually the first step is weight loss. Fertility specialists are likely to prescribe a drug called Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid) to stimulate ovulation, if this does not work, they can try some other agents.
In some women, ovulation is no longer possible and these women will usually be recommended for IVF but that is past the scope of this post.
Are you not ovulating or are your periods irregular? Do you have some of the symptoms described above? Ovulation disorders are the most common contributory factors to Infertility and the most important step is correctly Identifying and managing these causes.
This post does not replace a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner as Infertility diagnosis and treatment is quite sensitive and complex. All treatments should be carried out with specialist monitoring and follow-up.
Thank you for reading, any comments, questions or suggestions ? click the comment button!and don't forget to share with other women...It's about taking control of our health.
Comments
Post a Comment