Common Female Fertility Problems
Fertility testing allows fertility specialists to determine the most likely cause of infertility so that appropriate treatment options can be discussed. At the Los Angeles Reproductive Center, we offer a comprehensive range of fertility treatments that can be tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Here, we discuss some of the most common female fertility problems to be treated at our Los Angeles, CA fertility center.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
According to the Centers for Disease Control, polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is the leading cause of female infertility. The PCOS Foundation estimates that 10 percent of women who are of child bearing age suffer from PCOS, but only about half of those have been diagnosed.
PCOS is a hormone imbalance that causes small cysts to develop on the ovaries. Although the condition can be painful, the most common symptom of PCOS is an irregular menstrual cycle. Women may have short or long periods, light or heavy periods, or sometimes, no period at all for several months.
Because many women with PCOS assume that their cycle is naturally irregular, they often do not seek treatment. The condition may not be diagnosed until it begins to interfere with a woman’s ability to become pregnant.
Endometriosis
A woman’s uterus is lined with a layer of tissue known as the endometrium. When a woman suffers from endometriosis, the tissues that line the uterus begin growing outside of the uterus as well. Tissues can grow on the ovaries, in the fallopian tubes, the bowels, or the pelvic floor.
For some women, endometriosis can be extremely painful. However, other women do not experience any discomfort. As tissues grow outside the uterus, they can cause irritation, inflammation, or scarring. Endometriosis can affect fertility by blocking the fallopian tubes, disrupting implantation, and diminishing egg quality.
Hormonal Imbalances
Irregular ovulation is a leading cause of infertility. In most cases, irregular ovulation is the result of hormonal imbalances. If the body releases too much or too little of any reproductive hormones, a woman may experience changes in her menstrual cycle.
Irregular ovulation can impact egg quantity and egg quality, both of which make it more difficult for a woman to become pregnant. Hormones that play a vital role in ovulation include the follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin.
Age
As much as most women would like to believe that the biological clock is a myth, age does have a major impact on fertility. As more women are waiting until later in life to have children, many are seeing that their fertility has diminished.
Once a woman reaches the age of 35, there is a dramatic shift in her chances to conceive naturally without fertility treatment. Poor egg quality is thought to be the main reason that it is more difficult for women to become pregnant as they age.
Contact Us
If you have been repeatedly unsuccessful in your attempts to conceive, it may be time to consider fertility testing. To learn more about the testing process, and the other fertility services offered at the Los Angeles Reproductive Center, contact us at your earliest convenience. You can reach our team of fertility specialists by calling (818) 946-8051.