Table of contents:
- 1. Irregular menstrual cycle
- 2. Very much or too little bleeding during menstruation
- 3. Age over 35 years
- 4. Impotence and ejaculation problems
- 5. Being under or overweight
- 6. Three consecutive miscarriages
- 7. Chronic disease
- 8. Cancer in the past
- 9. History of sexually transmitted diseases
- 10. Smoking or consuming alcohol
For most couples, the first signs of fertility problems are when you've been having sex without contraception for more than a year, but still aren't pregnant. Even if you have regular menstrual cycles, your sex life is healthy, your health is good, and you don't have any risk factors, you and your partner can still experience infertility problems.
For some other couples, there are some early warning or trigger factors that are a sign of fertility problems, so they knew before even trying to get pregnant for a year without success.
Here are some signs that you and your partner should check. If you or your partner experience each of the following points, maybe it's time to consult a fertility specialist.
1. Irregular menstrual cycle
An irregular menstrual cycle can be a sign of infertility problems, if your cycle is unusually short or unusually long (less than 24 days, or more than 35 days), or your period often comes unexpectedly. If this happens to you, discuss it with your doctor. Irregular cycles can be a sign of ovulation problems.
2. Very much or too little bleeding during menstruation
Menstruation for 3 to 7 days is a normal bleeding. However, if the bleeding is too little or too much, you should discuss this with your doctor.
Also to be concerned about is if you experience bleeding that varies greatly from month to month, either in terms of volume, color, or length of time. Or if you suffer from severe abdominal cramps that are unnaturally high with each period, it can also be a symptom of fertility problems.
3. Age over 35 years
If you are a woman and over 35 years of age, your chances of experiencing infertility are higher. For example, at the age of 30 years, a woman's chance of getting pregnant is 20% in each cycle. When you are 40 years old, that chance decreases by 5%. So, if you are over 35 years of age, you should seek help from a fertility specialist if after six months of having sex without contraception you have had no results.
4. Impotence and ejaculation problems
The factor of infertility in men is not always clear. Usually, a low sperm count or impaired sperm mobility can only be determined based on a laboratory analysis of sperm (in other words, you will not be able to detect this yourself). However, if your partner is experiencing sexual dysfunction, this could be a sign of infertility.
5. Being under or overweight
Too thin or too fat can cause infertility problems. In addition, excessive dietary habits or too much exercise can also bring problems for fertility.
How do you know if you are too thin or too fat? Check to see if your body mass index is on a healthy scale.
6. Three consecutive miscarriages
Indeed, infertility is usually associated with the ability to get pregnant. However, a woman who repeatedly gets pregnant but continues to experience miscarriage also means that her fertility is problematic.
Because miscarriage is so common (occurs in 10% to 20% of all pregnancies), doctors do not usually consider miscarriage to be a fertility problem unless it occurs three times in a row. However, many doctors will also start performing fertility checks after a woman has had two consecutive miscarriages.
7. Chronic disease
Chronic diseases, along with their medications, can cause fertility problems. Diseases like diabetes and hypothyroidism can reduce your fertility. Insulin, antidepressants, and thyroid hormones can cause erratic cycles. Tagamet (cimetidine), a medication used in the treatment of stomach ulcers, and some hypertension treatments can also be a factor in infertility, including problems with sperm production or the ability of sperm to fertilize an egg.
If you have a chronic disease, or are taking medications that affect fertility, talk to your doctor about your chances of having children.
8. Cancer in the past
Some cancer treatments can cause fertility problems. If you or your partner have had previous cancer treatment, especially radiation therapy close to the reproductive organs, discuss this with your doctor.
9. History of sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases can cause infertility. Infection and inflammation due to chlamydia or gonorrhea can cause blockage of the fallopian tubes, make pregnancy impossible, or even put a woman at risk for an ectopic pregnancy.
Because chlamydia or gonorrhea does not cause symptoms in women, it is very important that you regularly check to see if you have it, so that treatment can be started immediately.
10. Smoking or consuming alcohol
Everyone knows that smoking and consuming alcohol is a strict prohibition for health. However, smoking and consuming alcohol while trying to get pregnant is a more serious problem. Smoking causes problems with conception for women, and drinking excessive alcohol can cause infertility, for both men and women.
