- Congenital Abnormalities:
Congenital abnormalities or birth defects are problems that are present from birth and these factors can lead to serious female infertility. Some of the birth defects are caused by drugs that the persons have been exposed to before birth. These congenital problems are usually only identified at puberty when they show up, or discovered by chance upon medical investigations for infertility.
An extreme congenital abnormality would be the absence of a uterus. So while there are ovaries and ovulation, the absence make it impossible to conceive a baby. This is where a surrogate mother comes in to help by carrying the pregnancy.
Birth defects involve abnormal divisions inside and sometimes outside of it. One abnormality is known as septate uterus, where a septum or barrier divides the organ into two. If the septum is not big and doesn't divide it fully, then possibility of pregnancy will be affected. But if it is large, it can cause miscarriages. This and other division abnormalities can be corrected surgically.
Sometimes, there are two uteruses. Normal conception is still possible and can take place in one of the uteruses. As the pregnancy develops, the empty one will make way for the one that is still growing. However, because of the space constraint in the pelvic region, the pregnancy may result in a premature birth or a breech birth.
Then, there are some women who are born with two vaginas, with one or two uteruses. It is still possible to conceive with this condition as long as the woman is ovulating. However, if such a woman is trying to get pregnant, she'll have to make sure that the vagina she uses for sex is the right place for her spouse's sperm to get through to her egg.
There can be birth defects with the fallopian tubes as well. The tubes could be blocked, incomplete or missing altogether due to some genetic problems.
- Pelvic Adhesions:
Plvic adhesion happens when your reproductive organs become attached to each other. This can result from previous infections or surgeries.
Pelvic adhesions restricts the movements of otherwise mobile organs like the fallopian tubes and can thus cause female infertility.
Adhesions can be caused by scar tissues from a previous currette or a Dilatation and Curettage (D & C) procedure. This is the process used to remove pregnancy tissue from the uterus following a miscarriage or abortion.
Pelvic adhesions can also lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which inhibit your fertility.
Treatment is by surgery to remove or separate the adhesions.
- Asherman's Syndrome:
This is a condition when the two sides of the uterus start to grow together resulting in an obstruction. When this happens, the lining on it will be damaged and result in Amenorrhea (no menustration) and female infertility.
Treatment is by surgery to restore the uterine cavity.
- Surgery:
This is rare, but sometimes, a previous uterine surgery or procedure can damage the cervix or uterine lining leading to female infertility.
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- Fibroids and Polyps:
An intrauterine fibroid is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour that develops in the uterus. It is usually detected by an ultrasound scan. Fibroids are more common in older women and are often associated with Estrogen and Progesterone changes.
A fibroid, though benign, can interfere with your conception if it is large enough to interrupt the movement of sperms or egg, or affect the implanatation of an embryo. It can also cause complications with your pregnancy and delivery of your baby.
Treatment can be done by using drugs to shrink it. But it may return again once the drugs are stopped. Alternatively, it can be removed by surgery.
If the benigh growth forms on the lining of the endometerium, it becomes an endometrial polyp. Polyps can be identified by physical general examination.
Polyps can cause heavy periods or result in spotting between periods. Depending on the cause, they can be treated with drugs, or by scraping the cervix and by surgery. They are less likely to affect your chances of conception.
- Cervical Mucus:
Your cervical mucus plays a very important role in your ability to conceive.
Cervical mucus is the vaginal fluid that provides the necessary nurturing environment for the sperms to survive. Thus if you're producing an inadequate amount of mucus or have inhospitable mucus, it will harm the sperm coming into your vagina.
What can change the condition of your cervical mucus?
Hormonal imbalance in your body or cervical infection can lead to the production of hostile mucus that actually repels the sperm or stops the fertilized egg from attaching itself to the uterus.
Extensive surgical treatment on your cervix can damage your cervical glands and you may not be able to produce enough mucus as a result. An inadequate supply of mucus will affect the motility of sperm through the vagina.
To help you conceive, your doctor may suggest that you try a procedure known as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) where your spouse's sperm is artificially inseminated into your vagina to enable you to conceive.
But before opting for the above procedure, there is a health supplement that will help your body produce more cervical mucus that you may like to try out first.
- Cervical Stenosis or Cervical Narrowing:
Cervical Stenosis refers to the narrowing of the entire cervix or the entrance to the cervix. This condition makes it harder for the sperm to get through to reach the egg.
This is caused by infections of the cervix with bacteria from common sexually transmitted diseases.
