Trying To Get Pregnant: Facing Roadblocks?

A couple may face difficulty in getting pregnant due to several reasons. Let’s focus on the top 5 reasons this could be happening to you.

1. Not Ovulating

Ovulation is the fertile period for a woman. The eggs will release from the ovaries and if sperm can fertilize them, it will result in a pregnancy. If you do not ovulate, there is no egg for the sperm to fertilize, hence no pregnancy.

Not ovulating, also known as anovulation, could be due to the following reasons:

• PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is one of the most common causes of anovulation or fertility issues in a woman. It is an endocrine disorder where the system produces abnormal levels of hormones necessary for reproduction.
• High stress levels can play havoc not only with your monthly menstrual cycle but with ovulation too.
• Body Weight extremes such as underweight or obesity can also influence your ovulation
• Low ovarian reserves or the number of eggs in the woman’s body is low
• Perimenopause or the stage before menopause when your menstrual cycle comes to an end indicating the end of the fertility period
• Premature ovarian failure where the ovaries stop functioning as they should before you turn 40
• Hyperthyroidism, a dysfunction of the thyroid, where the gland produces too much thyroxine
• Extreme exercises where working out too much too frequently can affect your ovulation

2. Infertility Issues

Both men and women can suffer from fertility issues. It could the woman, the man, or both. If a couple is not able to conceive after one year of trying, they could have an infertility issue. In such a case, the couple can opt for fertility treatments, or even donors (sperm, egg, or both). In some cases where the woman is unable to sustain the pregnancy, they can even opt for surrogacy.

Infertility could be due to

• Alcohol/drugs/smoking
• Weight issues (overweight/underweight)
• Environmental exposures to toxins

It takes a minimum of one year of trying without success, for a doctor to diagnose it as a fertility problem.

3. Age-Related Health Factors

As you age, your fertility goes down. It applies to both men and women. It is more prominent with the women as they are the ones who need to carry the baby. If the woman’s age is too high (generally above 35 years) the chances of a successful pregnancy decrease substantially. After 35, a woman’s chances of pregnancy only decrease with age as the number of eggs she carries will decrease with age.

One can suffer from various other health issues that are preventing the couple from getting pregnant. Some of these medical conditions are due to the age of the couple.

4. Blocked Fallopian Tubes

The sperm will have to travel up the fallopian tube to meet the egg, only then can it fertilize it. After fertilization, the egg has to descend the fallopian tube to the uterus and implant itself. If there is a block in the fallopian tubes, the egg and the sperm don’t get to meet and hence no fertilization or pregnancy occurs.

Medically, a block in your fallopian tubes is called tubal occlusion and can happen due to the following reasons

• Infections that affect the fallopian tubes (STDs like Chlamydia or gonorrhea)
• Pelvic adhesions
• Scar tissue as a result of injury or surgery around the fallopian tubes or abdomen
• Hydrosalpinx or a block at the end of the fallopian tube with watery fluid and swelling
• Endometriosis, a condition where tissues like endometrium grow outside the uterus and shed during your menstrual cycle. Since your body cannot shed it as conveniently as the endometrium lining, it can scar or block your fallopian tubes, if it grows around that region. If it forms around your ovaries, it can block the egg from coming out.

5. Medical Conditions Can Lead To Infertility

Apart from the above, various medical conditions can lead to fertility issues in either the male or the female. For example, treatment for cancer requires chemotherapy and heavy exposure to various drugs. Using these drugs will play havoc with the body. It can affect the health and quality of the eggs or the sperm depending on who is suffering from the illness.

Some of the other medical conditions can be:

• Diabetes
• Chlamydia
• STDs – HIV, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia
• Mumps
• Some of the fertility issues a male can face is:
• Ejaculation issues
• Erectile dysfunction
• Hormonal abnormality
• Low testosterone
• Low sperm count
• Poor sperm morphology

What Next?

While the woman’s fertility issues and health conditions go through a rigorous analysis for infertility, the fertility issues in a man are not so well known. Only a medical professional will check both the male and the female for fertility issues.

An analysis of both will help determine where the problem is. Once the doctor is able to identify the problem, they will be able to guide you with the required treatment or medical advice. There are many fertility specialists who can help a couple today.

Not all cases need to have serious roadblocks. Sometimes, it could be as simple as miscalculating your fertility period. A doctor can easily help you with this.

Some couples get pregnant right away and some take time. If you are struggling to get pregnant, be patient and give it some time. If you are still having trouble, seek professional help rather than self-diagnosis or giving up. With the advancement in science and technology, many fertility issues are manageable today.

FAQ’s

1. Why am I Not Getting Pregnant Even Though I am Ovulating?

You could be getting your ovulation dates wrong if your menstrual cycle is irregular. It could also be due to impaired ovulation, low semen health, an issue with the fallopian tubes, abnormalities in the uterine structure that is preventing the embryo from implanting or various other medical conditions.

2. Could I Not be Getting Pregnant Because of my Partner?

Yes, it is not always the woman who is responsible for infertility. There could be an issue with the sperms’ motility, health, density and many more. If the sperm is unable to fertilize the egg, you cannot get pregnant.

3. Could Our Inability to Get Pregnant be Non-Medical?

Yes, the reason you and your partner are unable to get pregnant could be completely non-medical. While medical issues are the leading cause of non-pregnancy, there are psychological reasons too. If you or your partner is highly stressed, it could affect the quality of your eggs or sperm, leading to infertility.