Infertility is one condition that scares most married women. Infertility means not being able to get pregnant even after trying for months. Women who can get pregnant but are unable to stay pregnant is also said to be infertile.
According to the Vital Statistics Malaysia 2017 report, as quoted from MalaysiaKini, the national fertility rate in 2016 is the lowest ever recorded since 1963, with the fertility rate per woman aged 15 to 49 in 2016 was 1.9 babies; a decrease from 2.0 babies in 2015.
Most cases of female infertility are caused by problems with ovulation. But it can also happen due to some unforeseen factors that we never thought of.
Unforeseen factors which lead to infertility:
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Does not appear on ovulation.
One of the reasons is, no ovulation. Before the “red lights”, a woman will have to undergo the ovulation process. A menstrual cycle that’s too long, too short, irregular or absent can mean that you’re not ovulating. It is one of the signs of infertility.
The body without ovulation may be due to external effects, leading to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In particular, it may be because our body is suffering from thyroid dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), stress, and many more.
2. Stress.
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Stress is also one of the factors which lead to infertility. Stressed conditions also produce hormonal imbalances in a woman, which can lead to irregular menstrual cycles.
Gynaecologist, Dr Azirawaty Mohd Tadzri said that,
I’ve come across many cases of women who have regular periods when they are single but they (periods) become irregular after they get married. This could be due to the stress factor and it becomes more difficult for the women concerned to conceive,
3. Thyroid.
A lack of thyroid hormone can inhibit ovulation. The thyroid gland, which is located at the base of the front of our neck, plays an important role in our reproductive health. It directly affects our ovaries and indirectly interacting with sex-hormone binding globulin. Thus, thyroid dysfunction may result in menstrual irregularities, which can lead to infertility.
4. Over-training.
5. Irregular weight changes.
Another important factor is weight changes erratically. Sudden weight gain or loss can cause hormonal dysfunction, which in turn leads to infertility. That is why a healthy diet and lifestyle is crucial in life. Eat more fruits, greens, nutritious meals to help boost egg quality and promote effective conception.
Accumulation of fat in the abdomen can cause imbalances in the production of oestrogen and progesterone (hormones) and lead to ovulation problems,
Prevention
If you are a woman planning to get pregnant soon or in the future, you may try these tips to improve your chances of having normal fertility:
- Maintain a normal weight. Overweight and underweight women are at increased risk of ovulation disorders. If you need to lose weight, exercise moderately.
- Quit smoking. Tobacco has multiple negative effects on fertility, not to mention your general health and the health of a fetus. If you smoke and are considering pregnancy, please quit now!
- Avoid alcohol. Heavy alcohol use may lead to decreased fertility. And any alcohol use can affect the health of a developing fetus.
- Be happy. Some studies have shown that couples experiencing psychological stress had poorer results with infertility treatment. Always find a way to reduce your stress, be happy and positive before trying to become pregnant.
- Limit caffeine. Research suggests that limiting caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams a day shouldn’t affect your ability to get pregnant. That’s about one to two cups of 6 to 8 ounces of coffee per day.
Thus, to all future mothers out there, please live a healthy and happy life. Improve your lifestyle. Eat healthy foods, surround yourselves with positive people and exercise regularly!
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