I was twenty six years old when I was first diagnosed with infertility. My inability to conceive was as a result of a condition called stage 4 endometriosis.
Same as many people who are facing infertility, I was heartbroken by these news. I believed I would have a large family, but the choices I found myself having to make in the years that followed, and the mounting agony of repeat in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, left me devastated.
It is not unusual for couples to experience issues with infertility and many of these couples have no symptoms. They do not really have any reason to suspect they may have infertility until they start trying to conceive. Because of this, it’s highly recommended that couples who have been trying to get pregnant for over a year without success, to seek the advice of a doctor. For females over age 35, this timeline is lowered to six months. Infertility issues may increase with age.
Signs and Symptoms of Infertility
The signs and the symptoms of infertility are often related to other underlying conditions. Such as, 10 to 15 percent of untreated chlamydia cases will lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. This leads to a blockage of the fallopian tubes, which prevents fertilization. There exist many conditions that can contribute to infertility in men and women and these signs and symptoms of each can vary greatly. In case you’re concerned, it’s important to consult with your doctor. Common symptoms of infertility include the following ones.Known Signs of Infertility in Women
1. Irregular periods
The average female cycle is 28 days long, however, anything within a few days of that can be considered normal, for as long as those cycles are consistent. Such as, a woman who has a 33-day cycle one month, a 31-day cycle the next, and a 35-day cycle after that, is probably having regular periods.
A female whose cycles vary hugely that she can not even begin to estimate when her period might arrive is experiencing irregular periods. And this one may be related to some hormone issues, or to polycystic ovarian syndrome. These may contribute to infertility.
2. Painful or heavy periods
Many females can experience cramps with their periods. But, however, painful periods that interfere with your daily life may be a symptom of endometriosis.
3. No periods
It’s not weird for women to have an off month here and there and some factors like stress or heavy workouts may lead to your period to temporarily disappear. However, if you haven’t had a period in months, it’s actually the time to get your fertility checked.
4. Symptoms of hormone fluctuations
Signs of hormone fluctuations in females, may mean some potential issues with fertility. You should definitely talk to your doctor if you experience the following:
• skin issues
• facial hair growth
• thinning hair
• reduced sex drive
• weight gain
5. Pain during sex
Many have experienced painful sex their entire lives, so they think and are convinced it’s normal. But it’s certanly not. It may be related to having some hormone issues, to endometriosis, or to some other underlying conditions that could also be contributing to infertility.
