Could a Medical Condition Be Blocking Conception?

A common infertility stigma is that it’s mainly an issue for middle-aged women who didn’t get pregnant early enough in life. While it’s true that age can affect the ease of conception, a larger truth is that infertility can happen to anyone for a number of reasons. With National Infertility Awareness Week taking place this month, we review a few medical conditions that can result in infertility.

Below are some of the common causes of infertility:

– Endometriosis: The development of uterine tissue outside of the uterus affects about one in 10 American women and can impede the function of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

– Luteal Phase Defect: During the menstrual cycle, the luteal phase helps prepare the uterus for a fertilized egg by producing progesterone and estrogen. Luteal Phase Defect causes insufficient progesterone levels or results in the endometrium not responding to progesterone stimulation.

– Male Factor: Issues involving male reproduction factors make up about 30% of infertility issues. A man may experience abnormalities in the structure that prevent sperm from flowing, a reduced or impeded sperm production, retrograde ejaculation or immunologic disorders that make it hard for sperm or penetrate the egg.

– Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): This hormone disorder affects about 10% of women, and its symptoms can span from acne, weight gain and excess facial hair to absent or irregular periods and zero ovulation.

– Premature Ovarian Failure (POF): In essence, POF is early menopause, and it causes women to experience irregular periods, hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. On average, POF affects women around the age of 27.

These are not all of the infertility factors that can prevent natural conception, and it’s important to speak with a reproductive specialist if you have been struggling to conceive. We invite you to contact Idaho Fertility Center at 208-529-2019 today to learn more about potential underlying medical conditions and whether you should seek fertility treatment in Idaho Falls, Idaho.