Symptoms of infertility to look out for

I heard you guys have been trying for over twelve months now and you still haven’t conceived? That can be difficult! Before you get too stressed it’s a good plan to look into some of the symptoms of infertility and then you can decide whether to get some help.

Men and women shows infertility differently. Duh! Ladies first.

Female Symptoms of Infertility

You may be infertile even though you don’t have any of these symptoms – but check them in any case just to be sure. Make sure that you inform your doctor if you have any of the symptoms listed here. There are quite a few symptoms of infertility, but these are the ones you’d be more likely to notice.

Irregular Periods – Nonexistent periods, excessively long cycles and slight bleeding may seem like a dream come true; but any of these might be symptoms of other fertility problems. (If only you weren’t trying to have a baby, huh!!) On the other hand, a cycle fewer than 24 days, excessive bleeding, erratic cycles and acute cramps could also be warning signs. Don’t get too tense if you’ve just stopped taking the pill or another hormonal contraceptive and you aren’t having your period, it might take up to 6 months for your cycle to get going again.
Painful Intercourse – Painful sexual intercourse could be a symptom of endometriosis, which is when cells that are normally only found inside the uterus grow in areas surrounding the uterus as well and this can also impact your fertility negatively. Why? Because if you aren’t doing IT regularly enough, you reduce your odds. Reaching the big ‘O’ really makes you more likely to conceive, but if it’s uncomfortable you’ll probably be too tense and too uncomfortable to climax. Either way, if you experience discomfort during sex you should have it assessed, not only to help you have a baby, but for the sake of your relationship as well. Any acute discomfort in the pelvic area, even when you’re not having sexual intercourse can indicate something more serious – again, have it sorted out.
Growing Coarse Hair – Do you have a problem with excess facial hair? You might have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – where there are many small cysts in the ovaries) if you have recurring skin problems (not stress related), excessive body hair, skin tags, and greasy skin. PCOS also exhibits itself as infertility. From bad to worse, A lady suffering from PCOS is also more likely to carry her weight around her middle, causing her to have an apple shape in place of an hourglass shape, and she’ll battle to shed excess weight. Best you get that seen to!
Weight – Speaking of size, if you are too skinny or obese you can also have difficulties conceiving. You may be pleased about your lean physique, but if you are too thin, your body knows you may not be capable of feeding yourself and your growing baby. If you are overweight, the fatty tissue causes your body to make excess estrogen, which will also impact your ovulation. It certainly won’t help to go on a crash diet and work out five times a week because too much training can also affect your fertility negatively. Just eat healthily and get a practical amount of exercise and you’ll be helping yourself to conceive and boosting your odds of still being alive to see your child grow up!
That Biological Clock – After the 35 years of age your fertility drops off rapidly so don’t disregard the clock for too long – as much as it is up to you of course! Timing is crucial so you should see a doctor if you have been trying for 6 months.
Infections – Urinary tract infections and yeast infections that you don’t seem able to get rid of are also bad news for fertility as they may be symptoms of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease).

Symptoms of Infertility in Men

It isn’t so simple to check how abundant and mobile your own sperm are, so you may need medical assessment for that, but there are a number symptoms of infertility that you can pick up yourself.

Observable symptoms of male infertility include:

Failure to ejaculate
Weak or absent erection
Undescended testes
Other physical irregularities

These could all influence sperm manufacture and distribution.

Not that I’m saying I’ve noticed anything, but do you battle to keep your weight under control? Weight could also be a problem, as obesity (defined as one third over your ’correct’ weight) in particular can affect hormonal functioning. Maybe this is just the kick in the rear you need to get started on that exercise program you keep threatening to start!

My oh my! That seems like a rather lengthy list of the symptoms of infertility, but don’t stress to much, it’s not as awful as it seems. You can do something about many of the difficulties mentioned above – whether it be by eating more healthily or by the use of medication or by surgery. You may need to make a few diet changes here and there, and bust a few bad habits; then add a little medical intervention and you’ll be on the road to a healthy pregnancy in no time.

Here is more information on Signs of Infertility. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Infertility.