10 Factors That Can Cause Infertility in Women

Whether you’re looking to start a new family or continue the one you’ve started already, you must consider the effects your lifestyle may have on your fertility. Though infertility affects both men and women and is prominent in both, women are looked at as the only one who can have fertility issues. Some women used to be disgraced because of their infertility, sometimes killed, when that infertility could be the on the males part.

Infertility affects more women than you may think and it can be an emotional thing they learn and deal with. Today there are many ways to get pregnant and increase your fertility. These include procedures and treatments like in vitro fertilization and intrauterine inseminations. There are even treatments for men dealing with fertility issues.

There are many things that alter the fertility in women and create issues when it comes to conceiving. You must pay attention to the things that you associate yourself with to ensure your body is ready for pregnancy. Some factors can be difficult to break or change, but it’s important to know what affects fertility as a whole.

1. Being over or underweight

Being overweight or underweight can make chances of being fertile slim. Having too much body weight can throw off levels of estrogen in the body and cause infertility. Malnutrition is also a cause of fertile issues as it can cause a complete shut down of the reproductive system.

Changing your diet can definitely alter your ability to conceive. Shedding a little weight or even gaining some can be more beneficial to your reproductive system than you think. Drink more water and choose healthy snacks. Don’t forget to include consistent exercise, but don’t go overboard with it.

2. STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases are also a factor in why some women are infertile. A large population in America have been infected with an STD at least once and sometimes are undetected. These can lead to reproductive issues down the line. From scarring of tubes to complete infertility, STDs can lessen your chances of getting pregnant again. Avoid STDs with condoms and pay attention to who you’re associating yourself with. Those with higher counts of partners are at a higher risk for STDs.

Ectopic pregnancy is also a result that could happen when contracting an STD. This type of pregnancy happens when fertilized eggs implant outside of the uterus and cause strong pains.

3. Drugs

Drugs are an immediate no-go when it comes to the reproductive system of the body. Whether its cocaine or marijuana, heavy drug use can harm sperm and eggs. Cocaine causes you to become underweight and malnutrition, thus leading to another cause leading to infertility. Drugs like opiates and amphetamines have contributed to many deaths of women. They both can lead to premature babies and stillbirths. Stay away from any kind of drugs if you are looking to become more fertile and conceive a child.

4. Frequent smoking and tobacco use

Smoking of any kind can be harmful to your overall health, let alone your reproductive system. It can impair your bodies ability to conceive and should be avoided if you are trying to get pregnant. Cigarettes and tobacco smoke are known to lead to deformities when the baby is born. Smoking harms and ages your ovaries and exhaust your eggs. If you want a healthy reproductive system then you must quit unhealthy lifestyle habits. Try quitting smoking altogether or finding an alternative to lessen your chances of infertility.

5. Having certain types of illnesses

Some illnesses can affect the fertility of a woman’s body. These diseases are considered to be serious on a certain level and affect the way your reproductive system works. Illnesses like thyroid, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even infection can hinder a woman’s capability to conceive. There are some illnesses that are specific to fertility and the uterus.

Endometriosis is an illness that affects the uterus and causes its lining to grow outside in other areas surrounding the uterus. Doctors find that patients with this condition see their uterine lining on the ovaries, bladder, fallopian tubes, or bowel area. There are many symptoms that come with this illness that contribute to infertility, like Scar tissue, poor egg implantation, and even cysts. Fallopian or tubal illness is one that affects the fallopian tubes. This disease is also a popular cause of infertility in women.

6. Medications

If you currently on medication, whether it be antibiotics or antidepressants are a popular cause in infertility. When trying to get pregnant, think about what kinds of medications you are taking and ask your doctor if they will affect the fertility you have. Some medications are good for fertility, but if they have certain side effects it can be harmful to a woman’s reproductive system.

7. Imbalance of hormones

Hormonal imbalances are also what affects fertility in a woman. Estrogen levels are quite important and when they are too high or too low it can result in trouble conceiving or trouble with pregnancy. Ovulation is needed to get pregnant and if your hormones are all out of whack, it’ll be greatly difficult for you or your body to know when to reproduce.

You can notice an imbalance of hormones through irregular periods, irregular bleeding, new acne, and mood changes. The main cause of this imbalance is an impaired thyroid. Consider your age when you are thinking about your hormones. As you get older your hormonal levels change drastically. Hormones are important for our bodies to work properly, so if you feel you have an imbalance, take a trip to see your doctor.

8. Alcohol

Alcohol is another thing many people know not to do if they want to get pregnant or if they are currently pregnant. Heavy drinking can lead to the risk of an ovarian disorder. IF possible avoid drinking at all costs to increase your fertility. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption for fetuses, so it’s important to refrain from drinking.

9. Age

Age matters more than you think. We know the older you get the less likely you are to become pregnant. For women, the cap for pregnancy is around the age of 40, but for men, fertility lasts way longer. As time passes fewer eggs are left in your ovaries and they don’t necessarily work as hard as before either.

Though it isn’t completely impossible to get pregnant as you get older it just becomes more difficult. It can be a frustrating process to get pregnant late in life because your body isn’t really suited for reproducing.

10. Stress

Stress can be extremely harmful to your overall health if not managed well, especially if you want to become more fertile. There are countless stressors in life and it’s important to know how to cope with yours so you can be healthy and your body can suitable for pregnancy. Impact your health and your fertility by limiting the stress you have and finding ways to deal with any situations or things that cause pressure or anxiety.

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Melissa Bell

Melissa Bell has a strong background in nutrition education, fitness and yoga, and experience working on specialized stretching, bodybuilding and weight loss programs. She is actively studying Japanese, doing research and travelling for conferences while taking care of two children.