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Why
you may have trouble
Conceiving
Although getting pregnant may seem
like the easiest thing in the world, it is actually not so for many people.
There are several reasons for this, and any one or more of the following
may be applicable.
Late planning (advanced
age)
The trend today is for women to complete
their education and establish their careers before they think of settling
down and starting a family. However, for a woman over the age of 35, conceiving
becomes a problem. Infertility increases with age. Fertility peaks for
both sexes in their mid-twenties and then appears to decline steadily in
women over thirty and men over forty. Tubal infections, fibroid tumors
and endometriosis are more common in older women and are a common cause
for infertility.
Excessive drinking,
smoking, drug use
Research has shown that the excessive
consumption of alcohol or the use of illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine,
heroin and crack, by a potential father prior to pregnancy can be the cause
of infertility. Illicit drugs can also reduce the sperm count, damage the
sperm, reduce testosterone levels, and change testicular functioning.
(These are generally ejaculated with the sperm.) Heavy drinking can
affect a woman's menstrual cycle as well. Note however, that as long as
drinking, smoking and drug use have been curtailed before getting pregnant,
prior use seems to pose almost no risk to the baby.
Ovulation/menstruation
problems
Ovulation is a pre-requisite for
getting pregnant. In women with regular menstrual cycles of 28-35
days, ovulation takes place once every cycle. However, many women
have erratic menstrual cycles (often getting periods 3-4 times a year or
even less). This means that they have fewer chances of getting pregnant
not only because they have fewer possible fertile periods, but also because
they may not be ovulating in every cycle. (Note that ovulation does
not necessarily take place in every menstrual cycle).
Low sperm count (for
males)
The normal sperm count ranges from
20 million to 100 million sperm per cubic centimeter. Counts below 20 million
may be a cause for difficulty in conception. Factors such as fatigue, excessive
alcohol, smoking or other drug abuse, prostate gland infection, poor diet,
or occupational exposure to chemicals can cause a small, temporary decrease
in the sperm count. Varicocele is a condition when there are varicose veins
on the scrotum. This is another cause for infertility and can only be corrected
through surgery.
Retroverted uterus
Many women are born with their uteruses
facing backward (retroverted) instead of forward. This condition
can be diagnosed either by your gynecologist, or through an ultrasound.
One simple way to compensate for this problem of a retroverted uterus is
for the woman to lie on her stomach after intercourse. (Women with
regular uteruses who are planning to get pregnant are asked to lie on their
backs and lift their legs from their hips after sex in order to improve
the chances of fertilization). If retroverted uterus is the only
problem, then in most cases the woman will conceive. However, if
she still does not get pregnant, then the doctor may advise surgery.
Polycystic ovaries
Cysts are formed when the follicle
fails to rupture at the time of ovulation and begins to grow instead. This
condition occurs due to hormonal imbalance and is marked by absent or infrequent
menstruation. Women having this condition have a chronic tendency to have
their periods at intervals ranging from every six weeks to six months.
Conception becomes difficult due to irregular ovulation.
Intercourse pattern
Very often, you may simply be mistiming
your intercourse. In order for you to get pregnant, it is essential
for you to have sex during your fertile days. It could also be possible
that you may be trying too often in a particular cycle, and thereby causing
a reduction in sperm count.
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