Parenthood is seen as one of life’s most rewarding experiences. Many women, in fact, see this as their life’s purpose. In spite of globalization and dynamic trends, rootedness in family keeps this desire for children alive and kicking. Conversely, you’ll find that with some, the preoccupation is more with the prevention of pregnancy. With the proliferation of teenage and other “accidental” pregnancies, one would think getting pregnant is easy, and that preventing it is the challenge. For a significant number in our population, however, getting pregnant is a painful, emotionally daunting challenge. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one or two years of intercourse at least three times a week. This also extends to the inability to carry a pregnancy to full term.
Most of the time, infertility is the woman’s problem. Studies show that more than half of the cases of infertility are caused by female reproductive disorders. Some of these problems include irregular menstruation and ovulation problems, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and uterine disorders. We’ve also all heard of the “biological body clock”. Yes– that looming, scary monster that men constantly dodge when they find themselves dating women in their thirties and upwards. It’s what sometimes causes women to try to hard at getting the man to commit– the desire to get pregnant and the awareness of a ticking clock, a deadline by which they need to try to conceive before it’s too late.
This is not unfounded, though. Age is a huge factor in the ability or inability of a woman to conceive. The older she is, the less likely the female will be able to conceive and carry the fetus to full term. Women are known to have a fixed amount of eggs in their ovaries. Women lose a thousand each month– hence the frenzy.
Lifestyle is also a huge factor in the fertility game. If you drink, smoke or are into drug abuse, the chances of you conceiving are significantly reduced. Another issue that is often overlooked when it comes to figuring out the cause of one’s infertility is stress. Stress, however, is one of the biggest factors contributing to infertility. Stress messes up the woman’s delicate hormonal balance, which is also big factor for fertility. Responsible for much, much more than just getting a woman in a foul, whiny mood, a woman’s hormones dictate when she has her menstruation and when she ovulates.
As we all know, menstruation and ovulation are at the heart of this fertility game. Some women will notice amenorrhoea, or the lack of a period during periods of extreme stress. Sometimes, women will bleed more– all indicative of a lack of hormonal balance. If you feel that you are at risk, or if you know that you’ve been trying to no avail to conceive, it might be a good idea to schedule an appointment with an OB-Gynecologist. Getting a legitimate diagnosis is your first step to fertility.
