The Most Common Causes Of Female Infertility - General Information

For some women, having a baby is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. That’s why it’s so frustrating when, time after time, pregnancy tests come up negative. Each year, over 2 million women are affected by infertility. For many, the condition is temporary and treatable. Sadly, for some, infertility is a permanent problem.

Most cases of female infertility stem from disorders of the reproductive tract or the ovulation process. Sometimes the cervix is too narrow or becomes blocked, denying sperm access to the woman’s reproductive organs. Blocked fallopian tubes can also prevent pregnancy from occurring. Sometimes the lining of the uterus is too thin, and a fertilized egg cannot attach to it. Congenital defects of the ovaries and uterus can also cause infertility.

Ovulation is a normal monthly occurrence, but some women have underlying medical conditions that keep them from ovulating properly. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, 25% of all infertility cases are linked to ovulation disorders. Sometimes a woman’s ovaries don’t produce enough reproductive hormones to facilitate pregnancy. Such hormonal defects can also occur in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. Ovulation disorders can cause women to ovulate at irregular intervals, infrequently, or not at all.

There are several diseases which can lead to female infertility. One is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infections of the reproductive organs which account for the majority of female infertility cases worldwide. Another is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This condition causes the ovaries to produce too many male hormones, called androgens. Endometriosis is another condition which can interfere with fertility. Women with endometriosis experience the irregular growth of uterine tissues. Having the extraneous tissue removed can cause scarring within the uterus, resulting in a surface that fertilized eggs cannot attach to. Tumors in the uterus, whether cancerous or benign, can also prevent reproduction.

Finally, age is a common cause of infertility in women. After the age of 40, women have only a 5-10% of becoming pregnant with each ovulation. While diseases might play a role, most age-related infertility is caused by decreased hormone production.

Luckily, for many women, infertility can be reversed through medical care or in vitro fertilization (IVF). The prospects will become even stronger as more research is carried out in the field of female infertility.