If you are having problems getting pregnant, there may be a variety of reasons why you are not able to conceive. Infertility is defined for women under 35 as not being able to conceive for over a year. For women 35 and older, infertility is defined as trying for over 6 months and not being able to get pregnant. Do not worry if you fall into this category, you can still get pregnant. Infertility does not mean that you will never conceive.
Following are five problems that you may encounter when trying to conceive and common treatments for each problem. If you are having problems getting pregnant, you will also want to read on different lifestyle changes you can make to become pregnant faster. Read our post on problems getting pregnant.
When looking through possible causes of infertility and problems getting pregnant, you will want to do thorough research AND work with your ob/gyn or physician to determine the exact cause. Getting pregnant problems are best resolved when you are able to work with your doctor to correct them.
1. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is said to be an issue that affects approximately fifteen percent of women. It is becoming the most common cause of infertility amongst women living in the United States.
Endometrial tissue is the tissue that makes up the lining of the uterus.
However, in the case of endometriosis this lining has detached from the uterus and spreads, becoming attached to other organs and tissues in the female body.
This uterine tissue is usually found on the ovaries and Fallopian tubes when it hampers fertility in females. This tissue no matter where found within the body, still responds to hormones like it is part of the uterus. So when a woman is menstruating, this endometrial tissue will bleed as well.
However since it is outside of the uterus, this blood from the bleeding endometrial tissue has no way out of the body and collects and stagnates. This often triggers inflammation, pain, cysts, and scar tissue within the reproductive system.
Getting Pregnant Naturally – Despite Fertility Problems
While doing research for this website, I ran into a website by Lisa Olson. She shares how she struggled with infertility for a number of years before getting pregnant with her 2 healthy children at the age of 43. She is now a nutritionist and a fertility consultant who helps women who are having problems getting pregnant. If you have been having problems getting pregnant, I recommend reading through her site also. You can find her website here, Pregnancy Miracle.
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of endometriosis include backache, bleeding between menstrual cycles, irregular menstrual cycles, painful sex, pain in the pelvic area around ovulation and at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
However, even though you may have these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have endometriosis. These symptoms should be discussed with you doctor for a proper diagnosis. Some women that have endometriosis are asymptomatic (demonstrating no symptoms) and only find out when they are having difficulties conceiving.
Natural Treatment
However if a diagnosis of endometriosis is made, there are some ways that it can be treated and healed. Some natural ways that endometriosis can be treated are by reducing the estrogen in the body.
Estrogen is one of the hormones that feed the growth of endometrial tissue. To help the body reduce estrogen levels, the liver is one of the organs that is focused on, as the liver helps break down hormones in the body and keep the hormonal system balanced.
Foods that weaken the liver such as caffeine, processed foods, processed sugars, and alcohol are best eliminated from the diet so that the liver is strengthened to better handle the hormones.
Vitamin E is sometimes given as it helps break down excess estrogen hormone, normalizes hormone levels within the body, and is said to soften adhesions and scar tissue that has been formed by the endometriosis.
Conventional Treatment
Another option for healing from endometriosis is surgery. Surgery for endometriosis, even though not a cure is used to help remove the scar tissue, adhesions, and tissue that has formed outside of the uterus.
2. Damaged Fallopian Tubes
Another issue that can cause fertility problems in women is damaged fallopian tubes.
Damaged fallopian tubes include tubes that are blocked as well. Damaged/blocked fallopian tubes are usually caused by sexually transmitted diseases, pelvic inflammatory disease and/or ectopic pregnancy.
Symptoms
Symptoms of damaged fallopian tubes are usually asymptomatic and are not diagnosed until a woman tells her physician that she is having trouble conceiving.
Natural Treatment
Alternative measures to surgery that are used to repair damaged fallopian tubes include taking vitamin E to soften adhesions and scar tissues on the fallopian tubes, drinking red clover tea to break up scar tissue, and pelvic area massage to increase blood flow and improve circulation which has been found to heal the fallopian tubes as well.
Conventional Treatment
Damaged/ blocked fallopian tubes are usually treated by surgery. The surgeon attempts to repair the portions of the fallopian tube that have been damaged by disease, and in the case of blocked fallopian tubes the adhesions and scar tissue are removed to open up the fallopian tubes.
3. Ovulation Problems
Ovulation problems can also cause infertility issues in women.
Ovulation problems are usually defined as any hormonal issues that prevents an egg from being released.
Approximately thirty percent of women have issues with ovulation which inhibit conceiving.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ovulation problems include no menstrual cycle at all, irregular menstrual cycle, or abnormal uterine bleeding.
Natural Treatment
Acupuncture is another form of treatment for ovulation problems that is gaining ground. Acupuncture is said to stimulate the ovaries by thin needles being placed on certain acupressure points that correlate with the ovaries. Acupuncture has also been found to help reset the hormones of the body, making it conducive for ovulation improvement.
Conventional Treatment
Ovulation problems are usually treated by ovulatory drugs such as Clomid and other ovulation inducing drugs.
4. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is another common fertility issue.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal syndrome that causes multiple cysts to form on the outer edge of the ovaries. Polycystic ovarian syndrome can also inhibit ovulation as well.
Symptoms
Symptoms of PCOS include unexplained weight gain, excess facial hair, baldness in a male like pattern, and infrequent menstrual cycles.
Natural Treatment
Treatment for polycystic ovarian syndrome includes natural therapy such as castor oil packs. Castor oil packs have been said to reduce ovarian pain caused by cysts, and increase blood flow and circulation within the pelvic organs.
Conventional Treatment
Pharmaceutical treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome is usually Metformin. Metformin regulates menstrual periods, improves ovulation and helps an afflicted woman lose weight.
5. Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids within the uterus, can block the fallopian tubes, and also prevent a fertilized egg from implanting into the uterus wall.
Symptoms
Symptoms of fibroids include pain in the pelvic region, menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than one week, heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure and localized pain based on the location of the uterine fibroid.
Natural Treatment
Natural treatments for uterine fibroids include reducing estrogenic foods (dairy, eggs, cheese and red meats) from the diet, castor oil packs, fresh pressed vegetable and fruit juices, and herbs such as ginger over a period of time until the fibroids shrink on their own.
Conventional Treatment
Surgical removal of uterine fibroids is another treatment option; however surgery does not cure or prevent fibroids from returning in women.
If you want to learn techniques to get pregnant naturally, even if you have had problems in the past, I recommend Lisa Olson’s website, Pregnancy Miracle.