4 Potential Causes of Infertility

You want to have a child, so you follow all of the recommendations, but your body simply isn’t cooperating. Well, you’re not alone. Approximately 12% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term, and 6% of married women in this age group are unable to get pregnant after a year of trying.

While there may be some comfort in knowing that so many women understand your frustration, it does little for your quest to start your family, or add to it, which is where we come in. Our team at Associates in Obstetrics & Gynecology, led by Dr. Jack Tubbs, is here to help you realize your family-building dreams. 

If you’re experiencing fertility issues, our first step is to identify the underlying cause, and we outline four of the more common ones here.

1. Ovulation

The road to conception is complicated, but it all starts with ovulation. There are several conditions that can affect your ability to release healthy, viable eggs, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is the most common driver of female infertility. This condition is caused by a hormonal imbalance that can interfere with your ovulation.

Another common ovulation problem is primary ovarian insufficiency, a condition in which your ovaries stop functioning normally before the age of 40.

2. Endometriosis

While the exact connection between endometriosis and infertility has yet to be uncovered, we do know that 25-50% of infertile women have endometriosis, and 30-50% of women with endometriosis are infertile

Endometriosis is a condition in which your endometrium (the lining of your uterus) grows outside the organ. This tissue continues to act as if it were inside your uterus, thickening with each menstrual cycle. When it comes time for the tissue to shed out, however, it has nowhere to go and can create adhesions that block your fallopian tubes or interfere with other reproductive functions.

3. Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are fairly common, and up to 80% of women develop them by the time they reach the age of 50. Most fibroids pose no real threat, but if they grow large or numerous enough, they can interfere with your fertility and may cause moderate discomfort.

4. Age

As you age, your eggs can become increasingly less viable, which is becoming more problematic as women put off having children until their 30s and 40s.

Of course, millions of women successfully bear children at more advanced maternal ages, but some struggle. While there’s nothing we can do about your age, you can now freeze your eggs when you’re younger for later use. As well, more often than not, women over age 35 just need to be a little more patient when they’re trying to have children.

Treating your infertility

If you’ve been unable to conceive after a year of trying, our first order of business is to identify the cause of the problem. If we find that you have endometriosis or fibroids that may be interfering with your ability to conceive, we may recommend surgical removal of the uterine fibroids or the adhesions that endometriosis can create.

If you’re having issues with ovulation, we work to remedy the underlying issue first, but failing that, we can recommend alternative methods for conception, such as in vitro fertilization.

But, we’re getting ahead of ourselves here. If you’re having problems with fertility, your first step is to schedule an appointment at our office in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Give us a call today.