Female infertility can occur due to many causes which can be difficult to diagnose, however, as infertility among couples is becoming a more openly discussed topic, many treatments have been developed, like IVF to deal with it. These treatments mostly depend on the cause of infertility, which have been largely attributed to our sedentary lifestyles, and other internal and external factors as well.
Here are certain factors which may put women at a higher risk of infertility.
Age factor
The most important factor that affects fertility is age, and the one that we cannot change. As the women’s age of increases, both the quantity and quality of eggs declines, thus making it difficult for women to conceive. Although, most women do experience menopause until their early 50s, but around the age of 35, rate of follicle loss speeds, which causes their fertility to begin to drop sharply with fewer and poorer quality eggs. This makes conception very difficult, and also increases the risk of miscarriage.
Age is not just vital for conceiving women, but also affects male fertility equally. Men over the age of 45, experience a sharp decline in semen quality and sperm count.
Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones play an absolutely vital role in the process of getting and staying pregnant. They are chemicals in the body which flow between the glands and organs passing vial information. Therefore, any imbalance in your hormones can greatly hamper the way your body naturally functions. There are several hormones involved in the process of ovulation and conception, the most common being estrogen and progesterone, which are required to be secreted in the right quantity, and at the right time to ensure a smooth pregnancy phase.
If the levels of other hormones that are not involved in ovulation become too high, it could also negatively impact your body’s balance. The most common disease cause by imbalanced hormones is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is also a leading cause of infertility among women.
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Weight
Deviation from healthy weight can result in infertility or other conceiving difficulties. Carrying around excess body fat does not necessarily cause infertility directly; however, obesity can influence your hormone production, making it further difficult for a woman to conceive. The same issue is with being significantly underweight, as it may increase the risk of ovulation disorders in women.
Therefore, maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI) is vital as it may increase the frequency of ovulation and, thus, likelihood of pregnancy. But if you need to lose weight, don’t indulge in arduous, intense exercise as it has been associated with decreased ovulation.
Smoking
Smoking is potentially dangerous for all—especially for the reproductive systems of all genders. However, heavy smoking is more likely to have been associated with difficulties pertaining to conception in women, as they may be exposed to a higher risk of having a baby with a low birth weight, and other complications during childbirth.
The hazardous smoke inhaled disrupts hormones in both men and women and also damages their DNA. It can prove to be potentially fatal for a developing fetus. Moreover, smoking can damage a female’s cervix and fallopian tubes, expose you to a higher risk of miscarriage, and in some cases can also lead to ectopic pregnancy. Women indulging in smoking are more prone to faster aging of their ovaries and depletion of their eggs prematurely.
Consuming excessive Alcohol
Although there is no solid evidence that consuming alcoholic drinks a few times a week will affect fertility in women, medical studies have cautioned against heavy drinking for everyone, especially more than one drink a day for women.
Excessive drinking has been associated with an increased risk for ovulation disorders. Therefore, it is advised to all that indulge in moderate alcohol consumption, especially If you’re trying to conceive.