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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 married 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 married women over thirty and men
over forty. Tubal infections, fibroid tumors and endometriosis
are more common in older married 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 or
by married women who have amused their body, 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 married women with regular menstrual cycles of 28-35 days, ovulation
takes place once every cycle. However, many married 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.
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. married 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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