The diagnosis of infertility is incredibly difficult to cope with for any person who wants to fulfill the desire of a child sooner or later. Both women and men can be affected. In both cases, however, the inability to conceive can have various causes, and thus also therapy options.
What is infertility in women?
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a method of artificial insemination. In intrauterine insemination, sperm cells are implanted into the uterine cavity via catheter at the time of optimal conception. The diagnosis of infertility in women is infertility or sterility. In men, on the other hand, this is referred to as infertility (see article Infertility and infertility in men). Both diagnoses are considered when a couple’s reproduction is difficult or even impossible in the long term. However, there are just as many degrees of severity of infertility in women as there are different causes and treatment options. Basically, however, one speaks medically of actual infertility only if the impeded fertility lasts at least two years. Because infertility in women can also be of a temporary nature.
Causes
Infertility in women is divided into two types. On the one hand, there is sterility, in which no pregnancy occurs in the first place. On the other hand, there is also the case of infertility, in which the egg is fertilized but cannot be carried to term. Both types of infertility have different causes. On the one hand, physical reasons can be to blame for a woman’s infertility: Hormonal fluctuations, inflammation and malformation of the ovarian ducts, malformation of the uterus, but also various diseases such as diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, however, psychological stress and too old age can also lead to infertility.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
In addition to the failure to conceive, there are no clear symptoms for sterility, the inability to conceive, or infertility, a disorder in which the egg is fertilized but cannot be carried to term. If a couple fails to conceive after a period of two years, despite regular sexual intercourse during the fertile phase, this indicates only a disorder in one of the partners. Symptoms often associated with female infertility include an irregular menstrual cycle, intermenstrual bleeding and spotting, and permanently thickened cervical mucus. These symptoms point to estrogen deficiency as the reason for infertility. However, cycle disorders in women also occur without pathological cause and can also be triggered by stress or other psychological factors. However, hot flashes, depressive moods and lack of sleep are characteristic, especially if these symptoms are additionally accompanied by skin problems such as acne or hair loss. Pulling or stabbing pains in the lower abdomen, which do not only occur during menstruation, can indicate a deformation or pathological change of the reproductive organs as well as acute inflammations. Ovaries are often closed by an unrecognized and not timely treated inflammation, which makes conception impossible. In addition, pathological changes in the reproductive organs are not always accompanied by symptoms and are sometimes only discovered during a routine gynecological examination.
Diagnosis and course
Infertility cannot always be diagnosed at first glance. This is because the female cycle is very dependent on the well-being of the woman. Here, in case of indisposition or illness, hormonal fluctuations occur quite quickly, which can affect the woman’s fertility. Women who wish to have children and are afraid of being infertile should therefore seek out a gynecologist they trust and get competent advice. In addition, a mature egg does not necessarily have to “jump” every cycle. Therefore, actual infertility is usually only considered after about two years of unsuccessful attempts to become pregnant. Before making the actual diagnosis, however, it is necessary to distinguish between possible infertility and sterility.Subsequently, there are various examinations, such as blood and also ultrasound examinations, which can provide more detailed information about the status of the feared infertility. In addition, possible physical complaints must also be clarified – if they are present.
Complications
Infertility and inability to conceive in women can lead to various complaints. First and foremost, most of those affected suffer from severe psychological discomfort and, in many cases, depression. Affected individuals do not feel comfortable with the condition and as a result suffer from significantly lowered self-esteem and inferiority complexes. Furthermore, infertility and inability to conceive can also cause tension or complications with the woman’s own partner, as the desire to have children cannot be pursued. If the infertility and inability to conceive in the woman is caused by another underlying disease, it is possible that the underlying disease may also cause other symptoms. However, no general prediction can be made about this. Direct treatment of the disease is not possible in every case. Thus, in many cases, patients have to rely on other options to fulfill their desire to have a child. Particular complications do not occur. However, the desire to have a child cannot be fulfilled in every case. In some cases, adoption of a child is the last option left to the couple or the patient. In most cases, the patient’s life expectancy is not negatively affected by infertility and inability to procreate in the woman.
When should you go to the doctor?
If couples are specifically trying to have a child, medical professionals generally recommend having both partners undergo a check-up in advance. During the check-up visit, fertility or techniques can be discussed. In addition, extensive counseling about the woman’s fertile period should be sought. In many cases, information about optimal conception can be acquired on one’s own without consulting a physician. If questions remain unanswered or various concerns are present, consultation with a physician for a consultation is indicated. If pregnancy fails to occur despite several attempts over a period of several months, a visit to a physician is necessary. This will explain possible fertility and show possible solutions in case of existing infertility of the woman. If an unfulfilled wish for pregnancy leads to psychological and mental abnormalities, consultation with a doctor should be sought. In case of personality peculiarities, long-lasting sadness or depressive moods, help should be sought. A permanently lowered sense of well-being, general weakness or malaise are indications that should be followed up. Sleep disturbances, deficits in concentration or attention, and a mental absence are also signs of an existing illness. A physician is needed to assess the extent of the disturbances. If daily responsibilities can no longer be performed, a physician must be consulted.
Treatment and therapy
In order to be able to treat female infertility in a targeted and sustainable manner, the cause must always be found out first. Since there are many possible reasons here, there are also quite a few treatment and therapy options that can be applied to a woman’s fertility disorder. Firstly, there are various hormonal treatments. They are mostly used when hormonal imbalances are present – which is the case for very many causes. Best examples are irregular cycles, too much stress, psychological problems and also physical hormonal imbalances. Another option is artificial insemination. This is mostly considered in case of sufficient physical health, but also in case of severe problems getting pregnant. It is more difficult if the cause is physical. To some extent, however, it is possible to specifically counteract this. However, treatment is not always possible if the uterus or ovaries are severely malformed. In very drastic cases, it is often almost impossible for the affected person to become pregnant or to carry a healthy child to term. Unfortunately, at the current state of medical research, these women still have to accept that they will not be able to bear children.
Prevention
The best way to counteract psychologically induced infertility is to lead a healthy lifestyle. This means that one should eat a healthy diet and refrain from excessive alcohol or smoking at the latest when starting family planning. In addition, one must prevent and avoid excessive stress as much as possible already during the attempts to become pregnant. This is because these two factors can also affect a woman’s fertility. Physical causes, however, can only be prevented to a limited extent or not at all.
Aftercare
Basically, no specific aftercare measures are necessary for infertility and inability to conceive in women. The affected woman does not need to seek further medical care unless she has physical and psychological complaints. However, many infertile women develop depression or depressive moods due to the unfulfilled desire to have children. Therefore, it is often advisable to see a psychotherapist. In some cases, long-term therapy is advisable. Often, only a few sessions are required. The affected woman should avoid stress in the first months after diagnosis. A healthy lifestyle can contribute to better well-being in women with infertility and inability to conceive. A stable social environment is helpful in this regard. Involuntary childlessness often leads to relationship problems. Therefore, marriage or couples therapy can sometimes be supportive. In some cases, infertility and inability to conceive are sometimes based on severe primary diseases. Depending on the cause, a number of other follow-up measures may then be necessary. As a rule, at least some gynecological examinations are necessary. Sometimes affected women should additionally see an endocrinologist. Occasionally, spontaneous recovery occurs in infertility. For this reason, affected patients without a desire to have children should not forego measures to prevent pregnancy. Furthermore, regular check-ups with a gynecologist are also necessary in these cases.
What you can do yourself
This diagnosis is usually very stressful for the affected women. It can therefore be helpful for them to take a closer look at the causes of infertility in order to better understand their own situation. If the infertility is due to physical causes such as hormonal imbalances, malformations of the reproductive organs or diabetes, these causes can be treated to a certain extent and thus eliminated. It is certainly worse for the affected women if no reasons for the infertility or sterility can be found. In most cases, the infertility is then due to psychological causes. These women can be helped by psychotherapeutic treatment, which may reveal what exactly is preventing pregnancy in this woman. At the same time, psychotherapy can prevent depression and compensate for self-esteem deficits. This is especially true if the infertility is based on physical causes that are irreparable. These women would do well to consider the topics of “adoption” or “foster child” or to set themselves other life goals. If psychological causes are to blame for the woman’s infertility, anything that also helps against depression can help her. If a woman feels well and healthy, pregnancy is more possible than if she is unhappy, depressed and sad. A positive influence on well-being is a good, healthy diet, sufficient sleep and plenty of exercise.