Contents
Infertility, several possible causes
Late pregnancies
Fertility is a biological notion: we have the age of our hormones. However, we are at the top of our fertility around 25 years old, and this then decreases little by little with a very marked acceleration after 35 years. Beyond that, the ovulations are of poorer quality and the risk of miscarriage is much greater. Finally, the uterus and tubes can be the site of fibroids or endometriosis which further reduce fertility.
Capricious ovaries that disrupt ovulation
In some women, the presence of microcysts in the ovaries or a malfunction of the pituitary and hypothalamus (glands in the brain that release female hormones) prevent the release of the egg from the ovaries. It is then impossible for him to cross the path of the sperm. To cure these ovulation disorders, drug treatment (ovarian stimulation) may be effective, provided it is moderate (risk of hyperstimulation) and closely monitored by a doctor. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy, which are treatments for cancer, can also damage the ovaries.
Obstructed fallopian tubes
It is the second leading cause of infertility. The horns fallopian – through which the egg passes to reach the uterus – can get clogged. Fertilization is then impossible. This tubal filling is the consequence of salpingitis (200 new cases in France each year). This tubal infection is caused by sexually transmitted germs.
An abnormality of the uterine lining: endometriosis
La uterine lining – or endometrium – can cause some problems during conception if it is not of the right consistency. The uterine lining may be too thin and then prevent the embryo from clinging, or, conversely, too exuberant. In this case, doctors speak of endometriosis. This disorder of the lining of the uterus manifests itself as presence of endometrium on the ovaries, tubes, even the bladder and intestines! The majority hypothesis currently advanced to explain the presence of this uterine lining outside the cavity is that of reflux: during menstruation, the blood from the endometrium that is supposed to flow to the vagina goes up to the tubes and ends up in the abdominal cavity, where it creates endometriosis lesions or even adhesions between organs. Women who have it usually have very painful periods and 30 to 40% of them become pregnant with difficulty. To treat theendometriosis, there are two main methods: hormone therapy or surgery.
An inhospitable uterus
When the sperm has met the egg in the womb, the game is not yet won! Sometimes the egg fails to implant in the uterine cavity due to a deformity or the presence of fibroids or polyps in the uterus. Sometimes it’s the cervical mucus secreted by the cervix, necessary for the passage of sperm, which is insufficient or nonexistent.
Simple hormonal treatment may be offered to increase the secretion of these glands.
Lifestyle affects fertility
There is no secret, “Wanting a baby” rhymes with “good health”…! Tobacco, alcohol, stress, obesity or, conversely, a too restrictive diet, are all harmful to the fertility of men and women. It is striking and rather frightening that sperm were much richer and more mobile in the 70s and 80s than today! It is therefore important to have a healthy lifestyle to boost fertility.