Almost every woman dreams of becoming a mother. However, in some cases, it is not possible to get pregnant for a long time. If numerous attempts to conceive a child fail, the girl begins to worry. How to understand that you are infertile? This question is often of interest to the fairer sex.
Main sign of infertility
If a girl of reproductive age who has regular sexual contact and does not use contraceptives is not able to become pregnant within twelve months, experts say there is a high probability of having this pathology. However, despite this statement, other factors must be taken into account to establish the diagnosis. For example, after thirty years, it is quite difficult for the representatives of the weaker sex to conceive a child.
This may take a fairly long period, even if the woman regularly practices unprotected intimate contact and has no he alth problems. How to understandare you infertile? Are there clear signs of this condition?
Except for the absence of pregnancy, this pathology has no pronounced symptoms. And even the inability to conceive is not a basis for establishing a diagnosis. After all, there are often situations when it is not the girl who is infertile, but her partner. Therefore, both spouses should consult a specialist about this problem. Do not put off a visit to the doctor. After all, the sooner the examination is carried out, the higher the chances of successful therapy and a positive result.
Common causes of infertility in women
How do you know you're infertile? The inability to conceive is not an independent disease. And the only sign of this condition is the absence of pregnancy for twelve months of regular intimate intercourse without contraception.
However, it should be remembered that infertility in girls, as a rule, is observed due to various disorders of the body, in particular, the genital area. It develops due to diseases of an inflammatory nature, genetic abnormalities or birth defects of the reproductive system. Surgical interventions, hormonal imbalance, psychological stress and mechanical damage to the brain can also be factors provoking the onset of this condition. After the age of thirty-five, all physiological processes in women proceed more slowly. It is much more difficult for them to conceive a child than for younger representatives of the weakgender.
Varieties of pathology
How do you know you're infertile? This question is relevant for those who cannot experience the happiness of motherhood for a long time, despite numerous attempts to conceive a child. It should be borne in mind that the signs of pathologies that cause this condition are different and depend on the cause of the disease. Disorders of the body that contribute to the development of infertility are divided into several types:
- Primary infertility. They talk about it if the patient has never conceived. Typically, the cause of this condition is an imbalance of hormones.
- Secondary infertility. This diagnosis is made in a situation where the patient has already had at least one pregnancy, regardless of how it ended (interruption, delivery or death of the embryo in the womb). Often such infertility is observed after suffering inflammatory processes or infectious diseases of the reproductive system.
- Relative infertility. This condition is associated with the inability to conceive as a result of dysfunctions that are reversible. After the detection and elimination of pathological processes, the signs of infertility in the girl disappear, and the long-awaited pregnancy begins.
- Absolute infertility. It is explained by anomalies that are not amenable to therapy. This, for example, is the absence or defects in the formation of tubes, uterus, gonads. Previously, such pathologies made conception impossible. However, today, with the help of assisted reproductive technologies, women who havefeatures like these are given a chance to experience the happiness of motherhood.
- Immunological infertility. This disorder is observed in patients of both sexes. The disorder is expressed in damage to male gametes by special antibodies that are formed as a result of acute infections or chronic diseases transmitted through sexual contact. In case of suspicion of such a pathology, partners must undergo a comprehensive examination, including analyzes of biological material (semen, mucous membrane of the cervical canal and vagina).
Other diseases that prevent conception
How do you know you're infertile? Many ailments that interfere with the onset of pregnancy have pronounced symptoms. Their presence cannot be overlooked. These pathologies include:
- Adhesions, accumulation of fluid in the fallopian tubes. The cause of such phenomena is often adnexitis (ICD code 10 70.0). This disease has an inflammatory nature, occurs both in acute and in chronic, protracted form.
- Pathological processes in the uterus. These include excessive growth of organ cells (endometriosis), diseases of the cervical canal, various neoplasms (for example, fibroids).
- Oophoritis is an inflammation of one or two gonads, which is characterized by an acute or chronic course.
To diagnose such disorders, the specialist conducts an X-ray of the fallopian tubes and a laparoscopic examination. Such procedures not only allow to identify pathologies, but also have a therapeutic effect.
Hormonal imbalance
This violation is observed in disorders of the functions of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal or gonads. The substances necessary for the maturation of eggs are not produced in this case. Therefore, the woman does not ovulate. One of the signs of infertility in a girl, if it is of a hormonal nature, is a stable basal temperature chart. It indicates the absence of the necessary conditions for conception. In addition, in patients with similar problems, there is excessive hair growth (especially in the area of the legs, abdomen, chin), the appearance of acne on the face. In addition, the girl needs to pay attention to the nature of critical days. Any violation of the menstrual cycle (according to ICD 10 code 94.4 - 94.9) often leads to infertility. You should consult a doctor if the period between bleeding becomes too long, there are intense, prolonged or, conversely, meager and short-term (less than three days) discharge.
Infectious processes
STIs are one of the possible answers to the question of what causes infertility. Sometimes such pathologies occur without pronounced symptoms. In such cases, the spouses do not even know that they are sick. And only the lack of conception for a long time forces them to see a doctor.
Sexually transmitted infectionsnegatively affect the woman's body, provoking pathological processes in the reproductive system, which lead to adhesions.
Other factors that can interfere with conception
In some cases, infertility appears as a result of the following reasons:
- Lack of body weight. Lack of weight is typical for patients suffering from eating disorders, girls who have a poor and unbalanced diet. Excessive thinness hinders the process of maturation of female gametes.
- Being overweight. Obese patients are unable to have a child due to hormonal imbalance.
- Problems of a psychological nature. This is a strong desire to conceive or fear of pregnancy.
Diagnostic measures
To identify the cause of the problem, you must contact a medical facility. What tests are done for infertility? Experts recommend the following types of examinations to patients:
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.
- Assessment of the condition of the organs of the reproductive system using ultrasound.
- X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
- Laboratory analysis of biomaterial to detect infections and determine hormone levels.
- Examination of the cervical canal.
- Gynecological examination.
- Laparoscopy.
Therapy
After diagnosing female infertility and identifyingreasons for the development of infertility, the specialist selects methods of treatment. Depending on the factors preventing the onset of conception, the doctor recommends the necessary means to eliminate them.
Some patients are prescribed drugs to relieve inflammation, others - antibiotics, and others - medicines containing hormones. Sometimes the situation is so serious that it is necessary to use assisted reproductive technologies. Methods such as in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, the use of donor biomaterial or the services of a surrogate mother allow many women to make the dream of having a child a reality.
