Although getting pregnant may seem like the easiest thing in the world, it is actually not so for many people. There are several reasons for this, and any one or more of the followingmay be applicable. In this articleLate planning (advanced age)Excessive drinking,smoking, drug useOvulation/menstruation problemsLow sperm count (for males)Retroverted uterusPolycystic ovariesIntercourse patternLate planning (advanced age)The trend today is for women to completetheir education and establish their careers before they think of settlingdown and starting a family. However, for a woman over the age of 35, conceivingbecomes a problem. Infertility increases with age. Fertility peaks forboth sexes in their mid-twenties and then appears to decline steadily inwomen over thirty and men over forty. Tubal infections, fibroid tumorsand endometriosis are more common in older women and are a common causefor infertility. Excessive drinking,smoking, drug useResearch has shown that the excessiveconsumption of alcohol or the use of illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine,heroin and crack, by a potential father prior to pregnancy can be the causeof infertility. Illicit drugs can also reduce the sperm count, damage thesperm, reduce testosterone levels, and change testicular functioning. (These are generally ejaculated with the sperm.) Heavy drinking canaffect a womans menstrual cycle as well. Note however, that as long asdrinking, smoking and drug use have been curtailed before getting pregnant,prior use seems to pose almost no risk to the baby. Ovulation/menstruation problemsOvulation is a pre-requisite forgetting pregnant. In women with regular menstrual cycles of 28-35days, ovulation takes place once every cycle. However, many womenhave erratic menstrual cycles (often getting periods 3-4 times a year oreven less). This means that they have fewer chances of getting pregnantnot only because they have fewer possible fertile periods, but also becausethey may not be ovulating in every cycle. (Note that ovulation doesnot necessarily take place in every menstrual cycle). Low sperm count (for males)The normal sperm count ranges from20 million to 100 million sperm per cubic centimeter. Counts below 20 millionmay be a cause for difficulty in conception. Factors such as fatigue, excessivealcohol, smoking or other drug abuse, prostate gland infection, poor diet,or occupational exposure to chemicals can cause a small, temporary decreasein the sperm count. Varicocele is a condition when there are varicose veinson the scrotum. This is another cause for infertility and can only be correctedthrough surgery. Retroverted uterusMany women are born with their uterusesfacing backward (retroverted) instead of forward. This conditioncan be diagnosed either by your gynecologist, or through an ultrasound. One simple way to compensate for this problem of a retroverted uterus isfor the woman to lie on her stomach after intercourse. (Women withregular uteruses who are planning to get pregnant are asked to lie on theirbacks and lift their legs from their hips after sex in order to improvethe chances of fertilization). If retroverted uterus is the onlyproblem, then in most cases the woman will conceive. However, ifshe still does not get pregnant, then the doctor may advise surgery. Polycystic ovariesCysts are formed when the folliclefails to rupture at the time of ovulation and begins to grow instead. Thiscondition occurs due to hormonal imbalance and is marked by absent or infrequentmenstruation. Women having this condition have a chronic tendency to havetheir periods at intervals ranging from every six weeks to six months.Conception becomes difficult due to irregular ovulation. Intercourse patternVery often, you may simply be mistimingyour intercourse. In order for you to get pregnant, it is essentialfor you to have sex during your fertile days. It could also be possiblethat you may be trying too often in a particular cycle, and thereby causinga reduction in sperm count.
Although getting pregnant may seem like the easiest thing in the world, it is actually not so for many people. There are several reasons for this, and any one or more of the followingmay be applicable.
The trend today is for women to completetheir education and establish their careers before they think of settlingdown and starting a family. However, for a woman over the age of 35, conceivingbecomes a problem. Infertility increases with age. Fertility peaks forboth sexes in their mid-twenties and then appears to decline steadily inwomen over thirty and men over forty. Tubal infections, fibroid tumorsand endometriosis are more common in older women and are a common causefor infertility.
Excessive drinking,smoking, drug use
Research has shown that the excessiveconsumption of alcohol or the use of illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine,heroin and crack, by a potential father prior to pregnancy can be the causeof infertility. Illicit drugs can also reduce the sperm count, damage thesperm, reduce testosterone levels, and change testicular functioning. (These are generally ejaculated with the sperm.) Heavy drinking canaffect a woman's menstrual cycle as well. Note however, that as long asdrinking, smoking and drug use have been curtailed before getting pregnant,prior use seems to pose almost no risk to the baby.
Ovulation/menstruation problems
Ovulation is a pre-requisite forgetting pregnant. In women with regular menstrual cycles of 28-35days, ovulation takes place once every cycle. However, many womenhave erratic menstrual cycles (often getting periods 3-4 times a year oreven less). This means that they have fewer chances of getting pregnantnot only because they have fewer possible fertile periods, but also becausethey may not be ovulating in every cycle. (Note that ovulation doesnot necessarily take place in every menstrual cycle).
Low sperm count (for males)
The normal sperm count ranges from20 million to 100 million sperm per cubic centimeter. Counts below 20 millionmay be a cause for difficulty in conception. Factors such as fatigue, excessivealcohol, smoking or other drug abuse, prostate gland infection, poor diet,or occupational exposure to chemicals can cause a small, temporary decreasein the sperm count. Varicocele is a condition when there are varicose veinson the scrotum. This is another cause for infertility and can only be correctedthrough surgery.
Retroverted uterus
Many women are born with their uterusesfacing backward (retroverted) instead of forward. This conditioncan be diagnosed either by your gynecologist, or through an ultrasound. One simple way to compensate for this problem of a retroverted uterus isfor the woman to lie on her stomach after intercourse. (Women withregular uteruses who are planning to get pregnant are asked to lie on theirbacks and lift their legs from their hips after sex in order to improvethe chances of fertilization). If retroverted uterus is the onlyproblem, then in most cases the woman will conceive. However, ifshe still does not get pregnant, then the doctor may advise surgery.
Polycystic ovaries
Cysts are formed when the folliclefails to rupture at the time of ovulation and begins to grow instead. Thiscondition occurs due to hormonal imbalance and is marked by absent or infrequentmenstruation. Women having this condition have a chronic tendency to havetheir periods at intervals ranging from every six weeks to six months.Conception becomes difficult due to irregular ovulation.
Intercourse pattern
Very often, you may simply be mistimingyour intercourse. In order for you to get pregnant, it is essentialfor you to have sex during your fertile days. It could also be possiblethat you may be trying too often in a particular cycle, and thereby causinga reduction in sperm count.
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