Causes of Female Infertility
-
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- A hormonal disorder that makes it difficult to get pregnant.
- With PCOS, the ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid and, in turn, fail to regularly release eggs and interfere with the development of ovarian follicles.
- The most common cause of female infertility is problems with ovulation. Ovulation problems may be brought on by one or more of the following:
- Hormone imbalance, tumor or cyst, eating disorders, alcohol or drug use, excess weight, stress, brief/irregular menstrual cycles, thyroid disease, lifestyle and environmental factors
-
Decreased Egg Quality
- Poor egg quality, decreased egg quality, or failure for an egg to mature properly can play a part in infertility and drops significantly with age. Most notably, after 35.
-
Tubal Blockage
Damaged fallopian tubes may be brought on by one or more of the following:
- previous infections
- polyps in the uterus
- endometriosis
- previous ectopic pregnancy
- scar tissue or adhesions
-
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Women with this condition have trouble getting pregnant, but it is not impossible. About 5-10% of women with POI become pregnant without the help of medical treatment.