Nowadays, infertility is a big problem that affects most people in the world. It is estimated that 1 in 6 people is affected by infertility, which makes both men and women unable to enter into parenthood. When it comes to females, they become more vulnerable due to social accusations and mental depression that they are facing due to infertility. Today, we are going to discuss female infertility and its diagnosis and treatment options in this article.

Female infertility and its prevalence

Infertility is a disorder that affects the female reproductive system and is defined as the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. It is estimated that 11.8 % of women at the age of reproduction are affected by primary infertility in India, which makes it a common condition in our community. 

Various factors, such as age, hormone conditions, medical conditions, and lifestyle or environmental factors can cause this. 

Diagnosis of infertility in women

A physical examination by a doctor or a healthcare provider can diagnose female infertility. Some of the diagnostic methods for female infertility are given below:

  1. Doctor consultation: Your healthcare provider or gynecologist can do a physical or pelvic examination. It will help him to evaluate conditions like the menstrual cycle, miscarriage, and past medical history, which are related to infertility.
  2. Pelvic ultrasound: Your doctor may recommend an ultrasound, which helps to provide imaging guidance for infertility.
  3. Blood test: Your doctor can advise you to do blood tests like thyroid function tests or FSH level tests after the second or third day of your menstrual cycle. This will help identify fertility issues related to thyroid abnormality and poor ovarian reserve in women.
  4. X-ray hysterosalpingogram (HSG): Your doctor will suggest an HSG X-ray to detect the blockage in the reproductive system. This can be achieved by administering a contrast dye through the patient's cervix.
  5. Laparoscopy: You can suggest a laparoscopy, a small monitoring instrument used to detect and image women's reproductive system.
  6. Transvaginal ultrasound: A transvaginal ultrasound, or endovaginal ultrasound, is an ultrasound instrument that helps to examine the inside of a patient's pelvic cavity.
  7. Saline sonohysterogram (SIS): It is also an ultrasound procedure that helps examine the pelvis's inner cavity and assess the polyps, fibroids, or other structural abnormalities present in the women, affecting fertility.
  8. Hysteroscopy: It is an imaging technique that involves a thin, lighted, flexible tube known as hysteroscopy, which helps to examine the inside of the cervix and uterus.

Management and Treatment strategies for female infertility

Infertility can be treated and managed by the following options which are given below:

  1. Surgery: Your doctor can suggest surgery if you have a blockage or structural problem that affects your fertility. 
  2. Fertility medication: Your doctor or healthcare provider can provide fertility medication that can help to treat hormonal imbalances or ovulation disorders in individuals.
  3. Antibiotics: Antibiotics are medicines that can help eradicate infectious organisms from the reproductive system.
  4. Human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG): It contains follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which help to secrete gonadotropin to promote and stimulate ovulation and accelerate the development of corpus luteum. Medicines like HMG injections can help treat infertility in women.
  5. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART): ART like In vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can help to increase the chance of pregnancy in women. 
  6. Adoption and gestational surrogacy: It may also be a good option for people who want to become parents with infertility issues. 

Prevention options for infertility

  • Quit or limit your alcohol consumption.
  • Avoid smoking.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Do regular physical activities.
  • Eating healthy diet
  • Maintain the sleep-wake cycle.

End-Notes

Female infertility is a major health concern that needs to be addressed in every woman. Early diagnosis and effective treatment strategies are helpful in reducing the risk of infertility in young women. It is recommended to speak with your doctor if you are trying to conceive but can't find a way for it. Your doctor or gynecologist will provide an appropriate treatment to overcome the infertility issue in an effective way.