Fertility
From LoveToKnow Pregnancy
Even if you’re not planning to have a baby in the near future, it’s still important to understand your fertility.
Fertility and Sexuality
There are many myths surrounding infertility. One of the most common is that infertility is a negative reflection upon your sexuality. However, the two are completely unrelated. A person who is infertile can not procreate, but he/she can enjoy a completely normal sex life.
If you’re having trouble becoming pregnant, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. According to expert estimates, about 20% of all couples suffer from some sort of infertility.
What Factors Affect Fertility?
A woman’s fertility is affected by a number of different factors. For example:
- Hormonal imbalances can affect ovulation.
- Lupus, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune disorders can decrease your fertility.
- Body fat levels that are more than 10% above or below normal can disrupt the reproductive cycle.
- Prescription medications such as antidepressants, painkillers, or antibiotics can cause temporary fertility problems.
- Smoking increases your risk of infertility.
- Women who consume more than five alcoholic beverages each week can find it more difficult to conceive.
- Mental stress can decrease your fertility, since stress has a negative affect on your overall health.
- Chemicals, radiation, and other environmental hazards are thought to limit your chances of becoming pregnant.
Since a woman can have several risk factors for fertility problems, it’s important to avoid self-diagnosis. Only a qualified medical professional can determine what is keeping you from becoming pregnant.
Definition Infertility
Medically speaking, infertility is defined as the inability of a woman under age 35 to become pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. For women over age 35, additional testing is recommended after six months of unsuccessfully trying to conceive.
There are two types of infertility:
- Primary infertility occurs when neither partner has achieved a pregnancy.
- Secondary infertility occurs when a pregnancy has previously been achieved by the couple, but the couple is having trouble conceiving a second child.
If you are concerned about your ability to become pregnant, meet with your healthcare provider to discuss your options. At your initial appointment, your doctor will discuss your medical history to determine what further testing should be done. Typically, he/she will want to know if you’ve had any of the following:
- Painful menstrual cycles
- Abnormal pap smears
- Miscarriage
- Gonorrhea, syphilis, Chlamydia, or other STDs
- Pelvic pain
- Painful sexual intercourse
Infertility in Men
If you’re having trouble becoming pregnant, don’t automatically assume that something is wrong with you. Men can suffer from fertility problems as well. In fact, only 40% of all infertility cases can be solely attributed to a female problem.
Men who smoke, drink, take certain prescription medications, or have chronic illnesses often suffer from decreased fertility. Encourage your partner to contact his healthcare provider for further testing if you are having trouble becoming pregnant.
Additional Information
If you want to learn more about how to become pregnant, check out the following resources:
Learn More
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