Not every woman is fortunate enough to see the two lines on the pregnancy test. Whether they are not trying long enough or not ovulating, one thing is certain that they are suffering from infertility issues.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that infertility rates are on the rise in the United States. Nineteen percent of married women with no prior births aged between 19 and 49 fail to get pregnant after trying for a year.
Advancing age sure affects fertility in women, but there are other causes. In this guide, we’ll discuss a few possible causes of female infertility.
#1 Ovulation Disorders
A recent NIH publication reveals ovulatory disorders are responsible for 25 percent of infertility cases in women. The process through which a mature egg is released from the ovaries is known as ovulation. In women with ovulation disorders, eggs are released infrequently, i.e., only in some cycles. Many times, they aren’t released at all, which is troublesome.
Ovulation disorders can occur as a result of:
I. Thyroid Problems
Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism affect ovulation, resulting in infertility. Hypothyroidism disrupts the menstrual cycle of women and restricts ovaries from releasing eggs. Meanwhile, hyperthyroidism increases the hormone prolactin and the protein SHBG levels. Not only does this lead to infertility, but it also results in other reproduction-related issues.
II. Hyperprolactinemia
Hyperprolactinemia or hyper-PRL impairs GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) secretion and interferes with ovulation. Abnormally high prolactin levels in women make it difficult for women to get pregnant.
#2 Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
It may be hard to believe, but exposure to toxic chemicals found in everyday household products and drinking water could be the reason behind your infertility. According to Mount Sinai researchers, exposure to such chemicals may lead to a 40 percent reduction in fertility in women.
A study published in Science of the Total Environment discovered that higher blood levels of PFAS or perfluoroalkyl substances decreased women’s chance of becoming pregnant. Exposure to PFAS also reduced women’s likelihood of live birth.
For those unversed, let us tell you that PFAS are chemicals resistant to water and grease. These are found in drinking water and an array of consumer products. Paints, upholstery and carpets, food packaging, waterproof clothing, non-stick cookware, and personal care products, to name a few, are products that are formulated with PFAS. A good number of studies have discovered that virtually every American’s blood is contaminated with PFAS.
PFAS aren’t the only chemicals women need to steer clear of. Tetrachloroethylene (TCE), a synthetic solvent used in dry cleaning operations, is also linked with infertility. Female dry cleaning workers exposed to TCE were at 60 percent higher risk of infertility than those unexposed.
In this regard, the water contamination tragedy of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune deserves mention. Between 1953 and 1987, the military base’s drinking water supplies were contaminated with TCE. Over one million veterans were exposed to the contaminated water.
As TCE is a human neurotoxicant, it resulted in a host of health issues in veterans and their families serving at the military base.
Infertility in women isn’t the only disease linked with exposure to TCE in the contaminated water of Camp Lejeune. Several types of cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and ovarian cancer, renal toxicity, birth defects, and birth injury, are serious health issues linked with exposure to TCE in the military base’s water, reports TorHoerman Law.
While the Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows veterans to claim compensation, not a single case has reached a settlement. As of August 2023, more than 70,000 people have filed the Camp Lejeune toxic water lawsuit.
#3 Poor Egg Quality
Egg quality is important in determining fertility and her ability to conceive a baby. A woman with fewer eggs in her ovaries may have to deal with infertility issues. She may even find it challenging to conceive and stay pregnant if her eggs aren’t functioning well.
Women’s eggs start to decline with age. An early publication by ABC News reveals that a woman loses all of her ovarian eggs by the time she hits 30. That means women who put off childbearing till 30 could have difficulty conceiving.
By the time women reach 40, they only have three percent of ovarian eggs. You can only imagine the ordeal women undergo to get pregnant in their 30s and 40s.
Nevertheless, age isn’t the only factor that affects a woman’s egg count and quality. Chromosomal abnormalities in ovaries also have an impact on the number and quality of eggs in women. Higher incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
A Final Word
Infertility is a common condition among women. Except for the causes related to the environment, female infertility isn’t preventable. Maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and avoiding alcohol are ways to lessen your chances of infertility related to external factors.
However, infertility is treatable. Around 85 percent to 95 percent of cases can be treated with traditional medical therapies. Fertility drugs can be used to induce or regulate ovulation. Intrauterine insemination is another treatment you can undergo to improve your chances of getting pregnant.
