So you and your partner have been trying to get pregnant for months but are unable to—what exactly is happening? Believe it or not, it’s common for people to have problems when it comes to infertility. Often, people don’t know they have infertility until they try to conceive.
Infertility is the in the ability to get pregnant or stay pregnant after having unprotected sex for a year or so; women over the age of 35 should consult a doctor if she hasn’t gotten pregnant after six months of having unprotected sex. But infertility is not just a woman’s problem. In fact, men and women can equally experience infertility—though they have their own set of causes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “infertility affects millions of people of reproductive age worldwide—and has an impact on their families and communities. Estimates suggest that between 48 million couples and 186 million individuals live with infertility globally.”
Common infertility signs in women
Apart from having difficult conceiving, there are some symptoms women can be on the lookout for including:
- Irregular or no menstruation – A “regular” cycle lasts 28 days, and when your menstruation appears within a few days of that, it’s still considered normal—as long as it’s consistent. An irregular menstruation, on the other hand, is when it appears randomly, or at times when you can’t anticipate its occurrence. For many women, this is often related to polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS and is a clear indicator of a hormonal imbalance, which can contribute to infertility.
- Painful periods – Menstrual cramps, which are often felt in the lower abdomen but can spread to other parts of your body like the back or thighs, are normal. But when these hurt so bad that they interfere with your daily life, it can be a sign of a serious underlying condition like endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility and people who have this disorder can experience severe pelvic pain.
- Pain during sex – This is somewhat connected to endometriosis; pelvic pain can lead people to believe that pain during sex is normal, but it’s not.
- Hormone fluctuations – Signs like skin issues, lower sex drive, weight gain, facial hair growth—these can be indicators of potential fertility issues.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) – This is an infection in uterus and fallopian tubes due to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia and gonorrhea. These can all cause damage or blockage in the fallopian tubes, which is where the egg and sperm meet.
Common infertility signs in men
The number one symptom of male infertility is the inability to conceive; it’s possible for men not to have any other sign or symptom. But like in women, there’s also the possibility that an underlying condition is what’s causing the infertility.
- Problems with sexual functions like low sex drive, difficulty with ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction are some signs of infertility.
- Pain or swelling in the testicle area
- Low sperm count
- Respiratory infections
- Abnormal hair growth (face and body)
In general, for fertilization to happen, at least one testicle needs to be functioning properly. The body should also produce testosterone and other hormones to trigger sperm production. Enough sperm needs to be carried to the semen; if the sperm count is low, it lowers the chances that one sperm will fertilize a woman’s egg. According to the Mayo Clinic, “a low sperm count is fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen or fewer than 39 million per ejaculate.” Lastly, the sperm must be able to move normally in order to penetrate the egg.
Finding out that you’re infertile can be an emotional experience, especially if you’ve always wanted to be a parent and start a family. It’s common for people to react to this diagnosis as if they were grieving a loss. Though each person has a different reaction, typical emotions include anger, sadness, shock, depression, and frustration; people can also experience loss of self-confidence or self-esteem and sense of control over what’s happening. According to Harvard Health Publishing, there are several ways to deal with infertility: “About 85 percent to 90 percent of patients are treated with conventional methods, including advice about timing of intercourse, drug therapy to promote ovulation or prevent miscarriages, and surgery to repair reproductive organs. Only about three percent of patients make use of more advanced assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).” Of course, pregnancy and family planning is different for every person or couple, and it’s best to consult a doctor for the next steps to take if you’re experiencing infertility issues.
Sources: CDC, Healthline, WHO, Mayo Clinic
