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The Struggle of Getting Pregnant
Getting pregnant may seem easy for some women. It seems like the natural thing that we as women were given the privilege to; something that is ought to happen with ease. Yet millions of women are struggling to have a baby.
Why Can’t I Get Pregnant?
There are many reasons why getting pregnant is a battle for many women. There are biological reasons, lifestyle factors and medical conditions that could contribute to your situation.
Biological Reasons
Age is one of the most common reasons why some women do not get pregnant easily. Women who are above 35, or those whose partner is over 40, are less likely to get pregnant. As we age, the egg and sperm lose their ability for fertilization. With age, women ovulate less and sperm count decreases.
Lifestyle Implications
Sometimes even couples who are young and seem healthy find it hard to conceive due to their unhealthy lifestyles. Couples who want to conceive must stop habits such as smoking, alcohol, drug use, stress and poor diet. Smoking and alcohol can lessen sperm count and will affect the health of a woman’s egg. Weight can also be a hindrance to pregnancy. Being overweight or underweight will affect the sperm and egg count, and will negatively impact the production of your body’s fertility hormones and chances of ovulation. Overweigh women have higher fatty acid levels in the ovaries which affect the development of eggs. It appears that fertility is linked to good overall wellbeing, which means having a healthy body weight.
Pinpointing Ovulation
A woman is only fertile a few days during her cycle. This happens during ovulation, when her body releases an egg from the ovary. Conception is possible if intercourse occurs during the period of up to five days before ovulation to two days after. This is because sperm can survive inside a woman’s body for up to approximately five days. Although the egg can survive for about 24 hours after ovulation, it is possible for a woman to release more than one egg within that period. These time frames are just general estimates and may not hold true for all women.
A typical menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days with ovulation occurring on day 14. However, cycles vary greatly among women and even from one month to the next. Some women have irregular cycles and shorter ovulation periods. Without monitoring and understanding her own menstrual cycle and ovulation patterns, a woman can only guess when she is ovulating, making her chances of conceiving much lower.
Medical Reasons
There are other, more complex reasons that hinder a woman’s ability to reproduce. Most common factors are blocked fallopian tubes, thyroid problems, Polycystic ovaries, hormonal imbalances, endometriosis (when the lining of the uterus grows into other areas of the body, blocking the fallopian tubes, preventing sperm from reaching an egg), specific medical treatments (such as increased exposure to radiation in the past), scarred ovaries, premature menopause (common in women with low body weight and due to extensive physical exercise), etc. Complications from an STD may also prevent one from getting pregnant.
Ovulatory disorders are one of the most common reasons why women are unable to conceive. They account for 30% of women’s infertility. The good news is, approximately 70% of these cases can be successfully treated (according to Harvard Med School research). Treatments can range from taking supplements, practicing special type of fertility-enhancing yoga, improving your diet, surgery (in case of a blocked fallopian tube), medications (like Clomid, that are meant to regulate ovulation) to more advanced fertility treatments.
Keeping a Positive Attitude
Frustration, anger and despair are understandable. However, constantly stressing about your inability to conceive can make the situation worse. The more pressure you put on yourself – the less likely you are to get pregnant. Change your lifestyle (including diet, physical exercise, vitamin intake and dropping any unhealthy habits), relieve yourself of stress as much as possible and try to remain positive. There are many couples tried for months and years at a time, then stopped trying and ended up getting pregnant as soon as they stopped worrying about it. Seeking advice from a certified health professional or your family physician is a good idea. He or she will be able to tell you if, when and where you should undergo any fertility tests or special treatments. Until then, do your best in making sure your body is prepared for pregnancy and let nature do the work.
Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net
