It’s tough when you’ve been trying for a baby for so long and nothing seems to be going right. Before you guys get too worried it’s a good idea to explore some of the symptoms of infertility so that you can make your mind up about getting some help.
Men and women manifest infertility differently. Duh! Ladies first.
Female Symptoms of Infertility
You could have difficulty conceiving even if your periods are regular and you do all the right things at all the proper times, but despite this there are a couple of warning signs you should keep an eye out for. Make sure that you tell your doctor if you have any of the symptoms below. There are quite a few symptoms of infertility, but those listed here are the ones you’re more likely to pick up.
- Irregular Periods – You might be infertile if you aren’t having your period, if the stretch between your periods is rather long (as in months between periods) or if you bleed only a little bit. (If only you weren’t trying to conceive, huh!!) If you’re one of the unlucky ladies who has short or irregular cycles, very heavy bleeding or very painful cramps then you may also be at risk for infertility. Remember that it could take your system about half a year to get going again after you come off the pill, so don’t worry if you don’t menstruate for a while.
- Painful Intercourse – Is sex uncomfortable? That might be something known as endometriosis (where some cells that are supposed to only be inside the uterus are on the outside), and the discomfort is likely to make any other infertility problems worse. Why? Because if you and your partner aren’t doing IT often enough, you decrease your chances. If you are uptight because you are attempting to achieve orgasm and don’t, that can be counterproductive Either way, if you experience discomfort during intercourse you should have it assessed, not only to help you conceive, but for the sake of your relationship as well. If you have any acute discomfort in your pelvic area even when you’re not having sexual intercourse you could need medical intervention, you don’t want to take any chances!
- Coarse Hair – Do you have a tendency to grow coarse hair in all the wrong areas? I understand it’s tough to admit feeling like a teenage boy with pimples and fuzz growing all over the place, but oily skin, skin tags, recurring acne (not stress related) or excessive hair growth that can’t be blamed on heredity are all symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS – where there are many little cysts in the ovaries). Infertility is one of the side-effects of PCOS. If that’s not dreadful enough, a lady with PCOS will also struggle to shed excess weight and will tend to carry her weight around her waist instead of on the hips. I’d recommend you have that sorted out!
- Weight – Pregnancy may also elude you and your partner if your weight isn’t what it should be – underweight or too fat – both can be problematic. Growing babies is hard work and your system realizes that, so despite the fact that you might like fitting into a size 2, your size 2 body might not like being pregnant. High levels of estrogen might impact your ovulation, and excess fat will bring about excess estrogen. It certainly won’t help to go on a starvation diet and strict exercise regime because too much training can also affect your fertility negatively. Living a healthy lifestyle by eating properly and exercising will not only make it easier to get pregnant, but you’ll live longer too!
- That Biological Clock – After the 35 your fertility decreases rapidly so don’t disregard the clock for too long – as far as it is up to you of course! If you’re over 35 and you have been trying for 6 months you should make an appointment with a doctor.
- Infections – Urinary tract infections and yeast infections that you can’t seem to shake off are also not good news for fertility as they might be symptoms of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease).
Symptoms of Infertility in Men
If you are a man, there are a number easily noticeable things that could be symptoms of infertility, but you would normally need some medical assessment to pick up difficulties with sperm count and motility.
Below is a list of symptoms of male infertility:
- Absent ejaculation
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Undescended testes
- Other physical irregularities
You need all the equipment to be in tip-top working order to manufacture and distribute sperm effectively.
Confession time – are you overweight? Your hormones can get quite messed up if you’re overweight because an excess of fat cells will cause your body to produce extra estrogen – not good for guys! Maybe this is just the kick up the butt you need to get started on that fitness program you keep saying you’ll start!
Sheesh! That sounds like a rather lengthy list of the symptoms of infertility, but don’t get your knickers in a knot, it’s not as awful as it sounds. You can do something about many of the issues listed above – whether it be by eating properly or by the use of medication or through surgery. With a handful of lifestyle changes and possibly some medical intervention assistance, you and your partner should be well on the way to a happy and healthy pregnancy.
Here is more information on Signs of Infertility. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Infertility.
Mail this post
