If you are worried about your chances of getting pregnant, there are a few things you can look for. Endometriosis is one of these problems, and having periods that don’t come on time is another. If you’re in your 30s and don’t have kids, your OB/GYN may ask you if you’re “thinking about starting a family,” which is code for “thinking about having kids.” As you get closer to 35, they may ask you this question more often because the chances of getting pregnant go down with age. They might also ask about your plans to adopt or freeze your eggs in the future. You should know about some signs of reproduction, but having them does not mean you will have trouble getting pregnant.
Only you and your OB/GYN can tell if your irregular periods are caused by an imbalance in hormones or by something else.
6.1% of U.S. women, or 6.1 million, have trouble getting pregnant or keeping their babies to term, according to the CDC (CDC). Dr. Sherry A. Ross, an expert on women’s health and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women’s Intimate Health, says that infertility in women is usually defined as the inability to get pregnant after 12 months of unprotected sexual activity. The CDC says that for women over 35, this 12-month period is cut down to 6 months.
When trying to get pregnant, it’s important to watch out for a few things that could be signs of trouble. But only you and your OB/GYN can figure out what to do next.
1 Going Through Periods That Come and Go
Infertility can be caused by irregular menstrual cycles. Because I had anorexia, I didn’t get my period for most of my senior year of high school. When my doctor told me that I would lose my ability to have children if I didn’t start eating more regularly, I paid attention. Then it stopped suddenly. Dr. Ross also tells his patients to watch out for a history of irregular menstrual cycles. She thinks that they mean that you aren’t ovulating regularly, which will make it hard for you to get pregnant on your own. Problems with the thyroid and other hormonal problems, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), could make it harder to get pregnant.
Williams also suggests that you try to get your period back to when it was before. The doctor says that using birth control for a long time can mess up a woman’s menstrual cycle. “Taking breaks can make it easier to figure out what your normal is like.
2 Having had painful cramps and/or long, hard cycles in the past
Some women have mild cramps during their periods, while others have severe cramps that may be a sign of endometriosis. The most common symptom is pelvic pain, but other symptoms can include heavy bleeding and pain during or after sexual activity. The Mayo Clinic says that some women who seek treatment for infertility are given an initial diagnosis of endometriosis.
3. Have you ever had or do you have any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
You already know how important it is to have safe sex to avoid STIs and fertility problems. Dr. Ross says that STIs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis cause “a widespread pelvic condition called Pelvic Inflammatory Condition (PID)” “Any of these STIs can cause long-term problems with reproduction, such as pelvic pain that doesn’t go away and infertility. For example, an infection and inflammation caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea could block the fallopian tubes. Because of this, ectopic pregnancy or infertility should be taken into account. Everyone, including men, needs to take steps to avoid getting infectious diseases. If they aren’t treated, they can scar a man’s reproductive system and make his sperm useless for getting pregnant.
4. Health Problems That Last
Some long-term diseases and conditions, like diabetes, gum disease, and cancer, have been linked to a higher risk of not being able to have children. They can choose from a number of treatments, such as insulin and antidepressants. Talk to your doctor about how radiation therapy might affect your ability to have children if you used it to treat cancer and it was done near your reproductive organs.
There are a lot of abortions.
Infertility may be linked to having a lot of miscarriages. According to Verywell, 10 to 20% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage. Even though only 1% of women will miscarry three times in a row, a woman should worry if she has two or more miscarriages in a row. The Advanced Fertility Center in Chicago also says that women who can’t have children have a higher miscarriage rate than women who can. The institution says that “older” women have a higher risk of miscarriage because their eggs have more chromosomal flaws (abnormal karyotype).
As you can see, there are many things that can affect your ability to get pregnant, but only a doctor can give you an accurate answer.
