Common Causes of Ovulation Problems

The Most Common Causes of Ovulation Problems

There are different causes of ovulation problems.

The most common cause of ovulation problems is polycystic ovarian syndrome. However, there are also other causes of ovulation problems, such as early menopause, thyroid problems, a dysfunction of the pituitary gland, and even certain medications.

In this article, we describe the most common causes and treatments.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

By far the most common cause of ovulation problems is polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. In fact, PCOS is responsible for ovulation problems in about 80% of cases.

Women with PCOS have irregular periods and very often also experience weight gain as well as skin problems, most commonly excessive hair growth and acne. In addition, PCOS is also associated with two major health problems: diabetes and high blood pressure. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome are at an increased risk of having these two diseases.

Fortunately, polycystic ovarian syndrome is easy to treat. For women with PCOS who are trying to fall pregnant, the treatment involves restoring ovulation. There are also other approaches for women who are not trying to conceive.

The starting point is always weight loss. Every kilogram lost helps and even just losing two or three kilograms will make a difference.

Don’t let COVID-19 delay your fertility treatment!

COVID’s Effect On Fertility

Understandably, one of the main concerns among couples struggling to conceive is the effect of COVID-19 on their already-compromised fertility. However, SASREG allays these fears, saying there are no scientific reports that suggest COVID-19 could affect fertility.

There has also been a great deal of misinformation circulating online about negative impacts of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Firstly, it is important to understand that it is impossible to get COVID from the vaccine, because it is an mRNA vaccine, and it does not contain live SARS COV2 virus. The vaccine will also not impact existing medical conditions. However, underlying medical conditions entail a higher risk of having severe complications from COVID-19. Getting the vaccine will lower your overall risk of illness.

Despite a great deal of incorrect information in the media, there is also no evidence that the vaccine affects fertility.

According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the available data indicate that COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility in women or men, citing a randomized blinded Pfizer-BioNTech trial in which a similar number of women conceived after receiving the vaccine as those who received a placebo. It also confirms that because COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are not composed of live virus, they are not thought to cause an increased risk of infertility, first or second trimester loss, stillbirth, or congenital anomalies.

A Patient-Centred Approach To Treating Endometriosis

Another problematic approach is only considering surgery to treat endometriosis. Fortunately open surgery is no longer necessary and instead laparoscopy is an option. Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgery during which a small incision in the navel allows medical specialists to look inside the abdomen and the pelvis, to inspect the uterus, the ovaries and the fallopian tubes, and to detect and treat any endometriosis at the same time.

A further problematic approach is simply focussing on one symptom of endometriosis, such as infertility, and treating endometriosis with ART to the exclusion of surgery.

All these approaches are problematic because the treatment of endometriosis should not be based on the classification or even the severity of the disease. It should also not be based on a medical specialists’ preference for medical treatment, or for surgical treatment.

The treatment of endometriosis should be based on the symptoms of the patient and should therefore entail a combination of medical treatment, surgical treatment and assisted reproduction based on the patient’s situation. Because endometriosis is a benign disease, the disease itself does not require treatment.

Understanding Endometriosis

What Is Endometriosis?

It is very important to understand that endometriosis is not a cancer. Endometriosis is a benign condition in which the lining of the uterus is growing where it is not supposed to be – outside of the uterus.

Medically, endometriosis is defined as: “a benign condition in which endometrial glands and stroma are present outside the uterine cavity and walls.”

One could say endometriosis is uterine lining growing in the wrong place: often at the back of uterus or around the ovaries or on other organs.

There are also different stages of the disease and the ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) classification is used to determine the stage of endometriosis in a patient.

Depending on the location, extent and depth of the endometriosis implants; the presence and severity of adhesions; and the presence and size of ovarian endometriomas, endometriosis is classified as:

Stage I = minimal

Stage II = mild

Stage III = moderate, and

Stage IV = severe.

Most women have minimal or mild endometriosis, which is characterised by superficial implants and mild adhesions. Moderate and severe endometriosis is characterised by chocolate cysts and more severe adhesions.

Male Fertility Clinic In Cape Town

Here at Cape Fertility, we can also confirm that male infertility is far more common than many people realise. In around 30% to 40% of the infertility cases that we work with, there is a male infertility factor involved – meaning that the cause of a couple’s infertility is due to, or partly due to, a medical problem experienced by the male partner.

The possible causes of male infertility

There are many factors that can cause male infertility.

These range from obvious reasons such as a vasectomy or a spinal cord injury to medical conditions or even medications that are affecting sexual performance and fertility.

A range of lifestyle factors and the use of steroids or testosterone are also common causes and male fertility levels can also decline due to, for example:

* age
* stress
* a compromised immune system
* environmental factors like working with chemicals and heat.

However, a top cause of infertility in men is problems with sperm production or the quality of the sperm. In fact, male fertility is defined by the “sperm quality”, which refers to semen volume, sperm count, sperm motility (movement) and sperm morphology (shape).

IVF and ICSI Costs In South Africa

What IVF treatment entails

IVF is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that has been practiced for more than three decades across the world. It is a safe and trusted medical treatment, and its success rate is impressive.

Very simply stated, during in vitro fertilization the female partner’s eggs are collected and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The embryo is then implanted into the uterus.

While this sounds relatively simple, it is important to understand that IVF is not a single medical procedure or event, but a series of procedures completed over several weeks. From the first day of the cycle to the pregnancy test completed 14 days after the egg retrieval, the entire IVF process spans around 28 days, as briefly explained below.

Treatment usually commences on the Day 1, 2 or 3 of the female partner’s cycle. The first step is taking medications to stimulate the growth of the eggs, and to suppress ovulation. Patients are carefully monitored using blood tests and ultrasound scans, usually starting on Day 8 of the cycle.

The next step in the process is the egg collection. It begins with an HCG injection 36 hours prior to the egg collection procedure, which takes about two hours and is performed under sedation.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month: September

What is PCOS?

The name ‘polycystic ovarian syndrome’ is very frightening to hear, because it sounds as if it refers to cysts, which is misleading. PCOS fortunately does NOT mean there are cysts on the ovaries.

In simple terms, PCOS affects the little follicles in the ovaries in which potential eggs await the right hormonal signals to grow, after which they are released during ovulation. With PCOS, the little follicles are not stimulated to grow and to release every month.

PCOS is actually an endocrine (hormone) disease of the ovaries. It is a genetic disease and runs in families, and it is also a chronic medical condition for which there is no known cure. However, like other chronic medical problems such as asthma or diabetes, it can be well managed over the long term.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

It is important to note that PCOS can affect different women in different ways.

However, below are listed some of the most experienced symptoms of PCOS.

* Problems with ovulation
* No menstruation or irregular menstruation
* Prolonged, heavy menstruation
* Recurrent miscarriages
* Infertility
* Skin problems
* Acne
* Unwanted and abnormal hair growth
* Excess weight, rapid weight gain and difficulty in losing weight
* Health problems associated weight issues
* Problems with sugar metabolism and insulin levels
* Cholesterol
* High blood pressure.
* Obstructive sleep apnea

Ovarian Cancer and Fertility

According to the National Cancer Institute in the US, because gynaecological cancers such as ovarian cancer may not cause early signs or symptoms, and it is difficult to screen for the diseases, these cancers often go undetected until they’ve reached advanced stages. Because of this, the survival rate is low, with a five-year survival rate of less than 50% percent.

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) explains that there are three types of ovarian cancer in adults. Ovarian epithelial cancer begins in the tissue covering the ovary, lining the fallopian tube, or the peritoneum. Ovarian germ cell tumors start in the egg or germ cells. Ovarian low malignant potential tumors begin in the tissue covering the ovary, and are characterized by abnormal cells that may become cancer, but usually do not.

The risk factors for developing ovarian cancer include a family history and the presence of inherited gene mutations. There are tests that can detect mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which increase the risk of female breast and ovarian cancers and some additional types of cancer.

Ovarian cancer treatment and your fertility

Having ovarian cancer and the resulting treatment can affect your fertility.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends that all women with cancer discuss the risk of infertility and fertility preservation options with their doctors as soon as possible – and before cancer treatment begins.

IVF vs ICSI

What is IVF?

In vitro fertilization – or IVF as it is often called – refers to a medical process that has helped millions of couples around the world to experience the joy of having their own babies.

It is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that is used to treat fertility or genetic problems to help couples to conceive a child. Parents of babies born following in vitro fertilization often describe their babies as “miracles” and “dreams come true”.

Practiced for more than three decades across the world, IVF is a safe and trusted medical treatment, and its success rate is impressive.

Very simply stated, during in vitro fertilization the female partner’s eggs (ovum) are collected and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The embryo is then implanted into the uterus.

While the process sounds relatively simple, IVF is not a single medical procedure or event, but a series of procedures completed over several weeks. From the first day of the cycle to the pregnancy test completed 14 days after the egg retrieval, the entire IVF process spans around 28 days.

Treatment usually commences on the first two to three days of the female partner’s cycle. The first step is taking medications to stimulate the growth of the eggs, and to suppress ovulation until egg collection. Patients are carefully monitored using blood tests and ultrasound scans, usually starting on the eighth day of the cycle.

Artificial Insemination Cost In Cape Town

What artificial insemination treatment entails

Artificial insemination refers to a process in which semen is placed in a woman’s vagina or cervix by a means other than sexual intercourse. It is a widely-used form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that has proven over time to be both safe and effective.

Artificial insemination is a non-invasive procedure, and because it entails very little medical risk for the women undergoing the treatment, it is very safe. It is also a relatively quick and easy procedure, compared to other fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

In addition, it offers a good success rate and it is not as expensive as other fertility treatments.

What the cost of a cycle of artificial insemination treatment is