Infertility

Common signs of infertility

By Michelle Arthur

What are the signs of infertility?

If a couple is having regular, unprotected sex for several months without success, isn't that enough to suggest there may be some fertility issues? At this point, it could just be bad timing.

There are several details that need to come together to create a baby. Here are a couple things to do before you go to the next step of seeing a doctor:

• Are you keeping track of signs that ovulation is approaching? You need to so that sex can be productive.
• Are you having unprotected sex more than once during this window of opportunity? If not, you could be falling victim to bad timing instead of needing medical treatment.

Here are a few signs of infertility to help you decide if you really need to seek the assistance of a fertility specialist. If you find any of these signs applicable to you, be sure to mention them at your next doctor's appointment.

Not having your period

Amenorrhea is when a woman is not having menstrual periods. It is normal for women to experience this before puberty, during pregnancy, and after menopause. Any other time, a woman should have a regular menstrual cycle every month. If not, this could be a sign of infertility or other medical condition.

If a woman has been taking birth control pills, it may take several cycles for her period to return to a regular pattern. Amenorrhea may also be caused by several different changes in organs, glands or hormones involved in menstruation. Possible causes may include:

• failure of the ovaries (female sex organs that hold eggs, produce hormones, and ovulate)
• issues in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or pituitary gland (a gland in the brain involved in growth, sex hormones, and other hormonal secretions)
• malformed reproductive organs
• hormonal imbalance due to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• too little body fat (When a woman has too little body fat, as in the case of some athletes or women with eating disorders, menstruation may cease in an effort to conserve energy.)

Miscarriages

A miscarriage is classified as the loss (death) of a fetus before the twentieth week of gestation.

Many women suffer early miscarriages without even realizing they may have been pregnant, thinking they may only have been a few days late or that a cycle may just have been rougher than usual. According to the March of Dimes, as many as 50% of all pregnancies may actually end in miscarriage. Out of pregnancies that are known by the women carrying them, approximately 15% will end in miscarriage.

Miscarriages are not always a sign of infertility; they may also be caused by genetic problems or other unknown issues. If a woman experiences repeated miscarriages, however, she should be tested to see if it is an issue with her reproductive system.

Other signs of infertility

If you go for an exam at your OB/GYN, they may check for some of the following conditions that may affect your fertility:

• Endometriosis is a condition where the uterine lining is found outside the uterus.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease is a bacterial infection that begins in the uterus and may spread to other reproductive organs.
• Stenosis (narrowing) of the cervix (the lowest part of the uterus that protrudes into the vagina) caused by scarring or tumors.
• Fibroids (growths that may be inside the uterus).

Any of these could be considered possible reasons for infertility that may require medical intervention.