Fertility Problems With Age
As you get older, you are more likely to struggle with infertility as you try to conceive. This is relatively common and happens to both men and women. It can be very frustrating to deal with infertility, but there are drugs and medical treatments that can help make getting pregnant easier. One of the best ways to feel better about infertility is to understand why it is happening, so you and your doctor can choose the best course of action for treatment. Here are some of the most common fertility problems that happen as we get older.
Egg or Ovulation Problems
For women, this is a huge cause of infertility as they age. This is because ovulation tends to become less regular over time, so it is more difficult for you to pinpoint exactly when you will be most fertile each month. In your late 30’s, the quality of your eggs start to decline as well, so fewer of them are viable for insemination. If you struggle with these problems, fertility drugs can help improve both the quality of your eggs and your ovulation cycle.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
This condition occurs when the ovary follicles don’t mature enough to release eggs effectively. One of the biggest side effects is hormone imbalances, which makes it difficult to ovulate as well. This is more likely to happen over time because it is often directly related to weight gain. As women age, they are more likely to gain weight naturally, especially if they are pre-disposed to it, which reduces fertility.
Endometriosis
Women with this condition have endometrial tissue, which lines the uterus, growing in abnormal locations such as the pelvis. The symptoms usually get worse over time, which makes it more difficult for women to conceive. Surgery is usually needed to remove the tissue.
Low sperm count
In men, one of the biggest causes of bad fertility is a low sperm count. There are a huge number of reasons why you might not have enough sperm to effectively fertilize an egg, but over time, your sperm are more likely to die off. Sperm that are slow or abnormally shaped also tend to have trouble fertilizing an egg. This can be treated with fertility drugs.
Varicoceles
This is when a man has an enlarged vein in his scrotum. This can directly affect sperm production because it causes the testes to heat up. These veins can usually be repaired with surgery.
Anti-sperm antibodies
If you have experienced an infection or have had a vasectomy in the past, then sometimes your body will become confused and develop antibodies that fight off sperm. Again, this is more likely to happen as you get older just because at this point, you will be more likely to have experienced something that could cause these antibodies to develop.
If you are having trouble with fertility, consider seeing a doctor who can help you find the appropriate drugs or treatment. While these problems can be very frustrating, they are usually treatable over time.
