Reproductive health of women: How to know if I am fertile?
The fertility is something that is often taken for granted and we do not care much, at least until the moment you decide to have a child. When a woman makes this decision a world opens with an endless amount of doubt. When looking for pregnancy one of the big questions that can arise is: How to know if I am fertile?
If you are trying to get pregnant, doubts about your fertility are understandable and normal. Just as it is to perform certain tests to find out the status of your reproductive health . In this post we explain the recommended steps to follow.
How to know if I am fertile? First guidelines
The fertility of a woman could be found only through is specialized gynecologist. Therefore, the most advisable when there are doubts is to go to a fertility clinic. In these centers, specialized gynecologists are able to perform a complete clinical history.
The specialists will worry about making a general check of your health:
- Discard common alterations that could hinder your reproductive capacity: check levels of iron and thyroid hormones in blood, that there is no resistance to insulin.
- Perform general gynecological tests to rule out complications that may negatively influence your reproductive health: pelvic exam, vaginal cytology, etc.
If you have already done these tests and have ruled out any health problems, keep in mind that reproductively healthy couples can take up to a year to become pregnant . If you want to deepen on this topic, we suggest you read the best recommendations to get pregnant . If you have a male partner, it is essential that he also rule out possible problems.
Next, we will delve into the main factors that affect your fertility.
Key factors for women’s reproductive health
There are 5 main factors that determine or hinder the reproductive health of women. Do you know them? In the following lines you will find more details about what they are, what they depend on and how these types of problems are detected in women.
- THE OVARIAN FACTOR
It refers to the health of the ovaries and their ability to produce mature and healthy eggs. This function of the female reproductive system could be affected by some risk factors:
- Age: It represents a key indicator of the ovarian reserve and the quality of the oocytes. From the age of 35, these two descend significantly.
- Anovulation: The ovaries do not produce mature ovules. The most frequent causes are polycystic ovaries, anorexia, obesity, stress, insulin resistance.
- Exposure to endocrine disruptors: Tobacco, pesticides or others, negatively affect ovarian health.
- Medical history: Diseases such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, poorly controlled epilepsy, abdominal infections adjacent to the ovaries, cancer or autoimmune diseases.
- Hormonal imbalance: A blood test is usually performed to detect levels of LH, FSH, estradiol and AMH.
If you have a regular menstruation, surely you will be ovulating correctly and you could rule out the ovarian factor. Here you will find more details about ovulation and how to detect your fertile days.
- TUBARIC FACTOR
A blockage in the tube can interfere with the transit of the sperm, the egg or the embryo, preventing pregnancy. Tubal injuries can be caused by sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.) that cause pelvic inflammation (PID).
Another cause of tubal injury is SIN (isthmic salpingitisnodosa) or pelvic surgeries that have gone through infection and inflammation.
To detect and rule out possible problems in the tubes there are tests such as Hysterosalpingography (HSG) and Ecohysterology.
- THE UTERINE FACTOR
This type of problem occurs less frequently, yet it should not be overlooked. In this case, the uterus is not prepared to properly house the embryo, which does not become implanted.
In most cases it is caused by hormonal imbalances, although it is also due to anatomical factors (fibroids, polyps, adhesions and malformations).
- ENDOMETRIOSIS
The endometriosis is a common cause fertility problems. It manifests when the tissue that lines the uterus leaves the abdominal cavity and produces bleeding and inflammation. One of the main symptoms is very marked pelvic pain, during menstruation and outside of it.
- RECURRING ABORTIONS
They can be caused by hormonal imbalances, immunological problems, failures in implantation by uterine factor and less frequently, by being carrier of balanced chromosomal anomalies that do not affect the mother but can cause abortions.
If you’re wonderin, how do I know if I’m fertile? , Do not hesitate to contact us. Our gynecologists specialized in reproductive health will perform the necessary tests to detect or rule out the most common risk factors and recommend the most appropriate treatment in your case.
