There are various reasons why pregnancy may prove elusive in women. The most common include hormonal disorders and organic causes such as adhesions, cysts and tumours as well as issues in the fallopian tubes.
Egg maturation disorders such as Polycystic Ovary (PCO) syndrome are among the most common hormonal disorders in women – and one of the most common causes of infertility. PCO may occur when the body produces too many male sex hormones. Typical signs include an irregular cycle (due to the absence of ovulation), cysts on the ovaries, weight gain, increased body hair or blemished skin. In most cases, PCO syndrome may be treated with medication.
An unfulfilled desire to have a child may also have organic causes. Endometriosis is one of the most common. This when the endometrium, i.e. the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus. These growths are often located on the ovaries or fallopian tubes and are characterised by severe pain before and during menstruation. Our clinic specialises in endometriosis treatments. The growths may be dealt with by hormonal treatment, removed surgically or addressed through a combination of the two. To find out which treatment makes sense in your particular case, talk to your doctor at our clinic.
Fibroids are another form of benign growth, but these are relatively rare. They usually occur in the muscle layer of the uterus and can cause heavy and painful periods.
Like with endometriosis, they can be treated using medication or surgically removed.
If you fail to get pregnant, the reason may also lie in the fallopian tubes. In some women, the fallopian tubes or ovaries are obstructed. This means that egg cells and sperm cannot pass easily through the fallopian tubes and into the uterus. If the damage is minor, it can be treated through microsurgery, especially in young women. Another option is artificial insemination, i.e. In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). In this process, egg cells are removed from the woman and fertilised using male sperm outside the body. The embryos are then implanted into the uterine cavity.
Pregnancy may prove elusive in the case of uterine malformations such as septate and subseptate uterus, but these are very rare. This is where the inside of the uterus is separated by a muscular or fibrous wall called the septum. Such an anomaly does not necessarily prevent pregnancy, but most often leads to miscarriage. It can be detected by endoscopy and treated surgically.
In very rare cases, attempts at getting pregnant may prove unsuccessful if there is damage to the genetic material, for example chromosomal changes. Chromosomal changes can also occur when the egg cell and sperm cell fuse during fertilisation. As a rule, the fertilised egg develops only slightly and is released during the woman’s next period.
In the case of immunological sterility, pregnancy is blocked by antibodies. This can occur in both males and females. Sperm or egg cells are perceived as foreign bodies and attacked by the body’s defence system. This fertility disorder occurs rather rarely but is more common in women than in men.
The only way to find out if you have fertility issues, and if so, which, is by carrying out the corresponding exams.