Home » Signs and Symptoms of Infertility

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Infertility is defined as a condition wherein couples experience difficulty to conceive after six months to one year of unprotected, sexual intercourse and the inability to carry a pregnancy to full term, resulting in miscarriage. The first signs of infertility are the multiple incidences of miscarriage and the apparent difficulty in conceiving.

Infertility signs could not be identified easily and to spot these at the early stages will help treatment better. As these signs and symptoms often characterize conditions related to reproductive health ailments, to conclude infertility would require a thorough assessment of the signs and symptoms of the causes of infertility.

Conditions like PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Endometriosis, PIDs, Stenosis and ovarian/hormonal abnormalities exhibit one or more of the following:

• Excessive and Irregular bleeding or menstruation
• Painful menstrual cramps before, during or after menstrual cycle
• Absence of menstruation for a period of three or more months
• Abnormal little flow or lesser blood flow during menstruation
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Repeated occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections and pelvic infections
• Excessive weight gain or weight loss
• Excessive hair growth on chest, back and face area
• Excessive Acne

Learning the causes of infertility by identifying and addressing these symptoms will help us understand more about infertility itself. Identifying the symptoms and the causes of infertility are the first essential stages in proper diagnosis and eventually, treatment.

Below are some of the common conditions that exhibit the above symptoms and are often tagged as the signs of infertility:

• Endometriosis- It is a condition wherein the endometrial tissues grow outside the uterus and line more than the uterine walls. Growth in the other areas will become what we call as endometriosis implants and blockages. Forming in fallopian tubes, cervix, vaginal walls and even intestines, the deposited tissues cause menstruation backflow and disrupt ovulation process. These are often signaled by irregular menstrual periods, painful menstruations and sexual intercourse, pelvic pains and excessive menstruation during cycles.
  
  
• Stenosis- It is a condition characterized by the narrowing of the cervix. The narrowing is usually caused by scarring and abrasions of the tissues. The narrowing of the lowest part of the uterus is painful, and as such, the common signs of stenosis are painful intercourse and pelvic pain during menstruation.
  
  
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS - This common condition that involves the abnormal hormonal production that causes the growth of multiply cysts in the ovaries. This hormonal imbalance results to a disrupted ovulation process thus affecting a woman's fertility. Treatment for this condition involves hormonal medications for three to six cycles. Manifestations of this condition involve excessive weight gain or weight loss, irregular menstrual periods often with an absence of menstruation for three to six months, excessive acne and painful menstrual cramps before, during and after menstruation.
  
  
• PIDs (Pelvic Inflammation Disorders), STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and UTI (Urinary Tract Infections) - These inflammations and Infections are often accompanied by pelvic pain and fever. If these infections will be left untreated, they could lead to serious cases of infertility. The scarring of the tissues and immunological problems can lead to failed ovulation process. Men who have had infections and inflammations, and have recurred for more than three times, and left untreated for a period of time would have an increased chances of affected sperm count, sperm motility and sperm quality. All these leading to infertility.