There are two types of infertility:
Primary infertility: where someone who has never conceived a
child in the past has difficulty conceiving.
Secondary infertility: where a person has had one or more
pregnancies in the past, but is having difficulty conceiving again. It is
estimated that 1/3 of the causes of infertility are associated with male
factors such as poor sperm quality, 1/3 attributed to female
factors. Three of the most common conditions that contribute to early
female infertility are pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and polycystic
ovary syndrome.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of the
female reproductive organs, usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection
(STI). Although PID can often be treated quickly and effectively, if left
untreated, it can lead to infertility. As well as increasing your risk of having an ectopic
pregnancy, scarring or abscesses in the fallopian tubes can make it difficult
for you to get pregnant if eggs cannot pass easily into the womb. It's estimated that about 1 in every 10 women with PID
becomes infertile as a result of the condition, with the highest risk in women
who had delayed treatment or repeated episodes of PID.
Endometriosis
It is primarily found in young women aged between 25 and 40.
Endometriosis occurs when the endometrium, which normally lines the inside of
the womb, is found instead on the outside, most commonly on the ovaries and the
top of the vagina. This induces a chronic inflammatory reaction that causes
internal scarring, pelvic pain, painful periods, painful intercourse, and
infertility.
One of the main complications of endometriosis is difficulty
getting pregnant or infertility.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that
affects how a woman’s ovaries function. Polycystic ovaries contain a large
number of harmless cysts up to 8mm in size. The cysts are under-developed sacs
in which eggs develop. Often in PCOS, these sacs are unable to release an egg,
meaning ovulation doesn't take place.
Diagnosis is usually made during a woman’s teens and early
twenties.
Signs and symptoms include:
Irregular periods or no periods at all
Difficulty getting pregnant
Excessive hair growth - usually on the face, chest, back or
buttocks
Weight gain
Thinning hair and hair loss from the head
Oily skin or acne
PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility,
because women with it often fail to ovulate or ovulate infrequently; they have
irregular or absent periods and find it difficult to get pregnant. Many women
discover they have PCOS when they're trying to get pregnant and are
unsuccessful.
