Are you having difficulty getting pregnant? Have you already identified the nature of the problem? Here you will find an overview of the main causes that can hinder conception.
We know that once you are in the loop of "I can't get pregnant"it becomes even more difficult to analyze the situation with clarity and to understand what is best to do for your specific case. In these cases, the first step is to investigate the causes of the difficulty conceiving and to look for the possible ones. the most appropriate solutions to facilitate the much desired pregnancy.
Psychological problems, infertility, male infertility, polycystic ovary, the causes that could be at the origin of your difficulty in conceiving are numerous. But don't be alarmed: there are solutions to every problem, you just need to identify it correctly and act on it. We will try below to look at the most common reasons for having difficulty getting pregnant and come up with some methods and solutions to try to resolve the problem.
We remind you that in any case, even in the absence of obvious problems, a healthy and regular lifestyle can facilitate conception and allow you to get pregnant faster.
How long does it take to get pregnant? The average waiting time
Conceiving a child could be compared to winning the lottery: to win, you have to play, but when you play, you are never sure of winning! If you have regular and frequent sex during the most fertile periods (for women with a regular cycle, intercourse should be concentrated between the fourth and fifteenth day after the menstrual cycle), calculate an average of 8 months before you can get pregnant. If you have sex during your most fertile times without using contraceptives, you have 1 in 4 or 6 chance of getting pregnant, i.e. 15 to 20% chance. So keep trying and have sex at the right times. One great method is ovulation monitoring!
There are several ways to do this. You can first try it with your body temperature! In fact, just before ovulation, the temperature is at its lowest during the cycle. During the follicular phase – the period before ovulation – the body is usually below 37 degrees. After ovulation, you enter the luteal phase, where the temperature is found to be over 37. You can also use ovulation tests available on Amazon.
You can also calculate your ovulation date in seconds right here: ovulation calculation.
If you are worried that you may have difficulty conceiving (if, for example, a member of your family or his has had problems with infertility), it is better to have you checked out immediately, rather than waiting unnecessarily. . The same goes for those over 38: get checked out if you have any doubts!
Read also :
1 in 2 couples try to conceive at the wrong time
Understanding the temperature curve
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Irregular ovulation
In theory, ovulation occurs about 14 days after the start of the menstrual cycle. Once in the womb, the egg has a lifespan of up to 24 or 48 hours, and the sperm can survive for 36 hours. In fact, ovulation can take place between the 10th or 18th day of the menstrual cycle.
How to detect a problem?
Every morning, especially before you get up, take your temperature and write it down on a sheet of graph paper. You will then get a diagram of the month. A slight spike in the diagram indicates that ovulation has taken place. To find out the exact date of ovulation, you can also use some ovulation tests, which are expensive, but safe. After a few months, you may find that your ovulation occurs on a different day than expected based on your cycle or that ovulation still occurs at different times depending on your menstrual cycles. But it can also happen that ovulation does not occur at all.
What should be done ?
It all depends on what you have found: if the ovulation date does not change during cycles, you just need to better choose the time of intercourse (4 days before the ovulation process or 4 days after. elsewhere the more frequent intercourse during this period, the more likely you are to get pregnant!).
If, on the other hand, the date varies from cycle to cycle, extend intercourse for an even longer period. If ovulation is very irregular or does not occur, your gynecologist will order blood tests to check for any hormonal imbalance. There are also sex positions that would be more suitable than others for facilitating conception, as they will harness the force of gravity, making it easier for sperm to descend to the female cervix. This is one of the many ways to try to increase the chances of getting pregnant.
Infertility problem: a gynecological infection could be the cause
Some gynecological infections are not easy to detect because they are not felt. Others have very mild symptoms that we don't pay attention to when we should! The most difficult bacteria to detect is undoubtedly that of chlamydia: it is transmitted during unprotected sex (between 5 and 20% of women would be affected), and often no symptoms can be detected. This germ is capable of causing infection in the fallopian tubes, which are like channels through which the egg reaches the uterus.
If you contract the virus, the tubes can become blocked and even damaged, especially if it is an infection that you have had for a long time. This process could prevent and hinder fertilization.
Possible treatments:
We will never stop repeating it: an annual visit to the gynecologist is not only to be prescribed the pill or the medicine against the cystitis! Only the gynecologist can clarify your doubts and tell you for sure if something is wrong.
If the infection is detected in time, a simple pharmaceutical treatment is prescribed, often with antibiotics. If, on the other hand, the tubes are blocked or completely blocked, the only solution is to have an operation.
Dysfunction of the ovaries
The ovaries are responsible for the production of eggs. There are two main causes that can hinder their proper functioning:
Hormonal insufficiency : a large number of hormones with rather strange names (LH – luteinizing hormone -, FSH – follicle stimulating hormone -, progesterone, estrogen and others) affect the functioning of the ovaries. A disruption in the functioning of any of these hormones can become an obstacle to the ovulation process. Thanks to the hormonal dosage (which, we recall, is done by blood test), a possible dysfunction can be detected. In most cases, these abnormalities are treated by simple remedies, by taking medication (for a pre-established period) capable of making our organism function properly.
An ovarian cyst : Detected by pelvic ultrasound (don't worry! It's a painless exam), an ovarian cyst is very common, but not always an obstacle to reproduction. However, it is good to check for any changes (size and position) and very often, with a simple operation, the cyst can be removed quickly.
Is there a problem with the uterus?
The uterus usually allows the embryo to develop. During this process, it becomes covered with a mucous membrane, the endometrium, which allows the embryo to nest in the uterus.
What can create a problem?
Sometimes a cyst may be present in the uterus and interfere with the attachment of the embryo. Endometriosis (the presence of parts of the lining in inappropriate areas) can also interfere with fertilization. Sometimes the uterus itself has a defect that prevents it from keeping a fertilized egg.
In order to clarify the situation, it is preferable to perform some tests: a hysteroscopy – a tube is introduced into the uterine cavity to check that nothing is blocked -, or video-laparoscopic surgery (although anesthesia is necessary, this is a light operation).
Possible solutions
Your gynecologist will first prescribe pharmaceutical treatment, if your problem is not serious (a cyst that can resolve over time or superficial endometriosis). However, surgery can often be the best solution to having a baby, because your organs will function well later.
Finally, the last possible solution is an assisted fertilization cycle, otherwise known as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Male infertility: what if he was the problem?
In the old days, for a long time, when a couple could not have children, it was immediately believed that the problem lay with the woman. Well not only! The problem may very well be human!
When to act
As soon as you start to consult the specialist. Your partner will need to answer certain questions that will be necessary for your practice.
One of the first tests that the couple will have to perform will be the spermogram, to analyze the quality of the sperm, their mobility and their shape. In addition, a hormonal test for testosterone can also be performed, so that seminal fluid can be analyzed. In doing so, you will move towards a radical solution to the problem.
Solutions ?
If your partner's semen is "weak" (does not contain a lot of sperm, or the sperm is ineffective and not very active), medication may help. You will then have to resort to IVF (in vitro fertilization with embryo transfer): one of your eggs will be removed and fertilized in a test tube by the sperm of your partner, which will be carefully chosen, because it must not present any abnormalities (the semen, not your mate). This technique is also called ICSI – Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.
If in doubt or if you have any questions, consult a specialist! This will allow you to have a precise diagnosis and above all to reassure you a little. He might find a solution. Alternatives and solutions, there are! He may advise you to wait. Pregnancy is often a matter of patience!