Infertility in Women

Reproduction is fundamental to a civilization’s future and it is also one of the main factors that make it the most vulnerable.

According to the World Health Organization 2022, an estimated 1 in 6 people globally are affected by infertility. Infertility refers to an inability to conceive after 12 months of having regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Infertility can also refer to the biological in­ability of an individual to contribute to conception, or to a female who cannot carry a pregnancy to full term.

In this article I will focus on some of the common causes of and supplement suggestions for infertility in women. Stay tuned for more information on men’s infertility in June.

Possible Causes of Infertility in Men and Women

No one knows for sure what is causing this disturbing decline, but it is clear that some of the factors that plague our modern world are partly to blame. For example, stress hormones and toxic chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors (such as insecticides, flame retardants, and phthalates from plastics) all affect vulnerable reproductive organs and have negative effects on sperm and egg production. The obesity epidemic is another factor.

In some cases, infertility may have a single cause in one of the partners, or it could be a network of predisposing factors. Some common causes of infertility in men and women include the following:

• Hormone imbalances – In men, infertility can result from disorders of the testicles, and in women the ovaries themselves. Or there may be an abnormality affecting other hormonal systems, including the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands.
• Environmental stressors – Environmental chemicals with estrogenic activity (xenoestrogens) are responsible for much of the decrease in quantity and quality of human sperm and estrogen dominant conditions in women, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, amenorrhea (lack of menstruation), and other common disorders that affect fertility.
• Emotional stress – Severe or prolonged emotional stress can interfere with ovulation and sperm production.
• Frequency of intercourse –Sex 2–3 times per week may improve fertility.
• Smoking, alcohol, and caffeine – Smoking significantly increases the risk of infertility in both men and women.
• Being obese or overweight – Along with a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight is often found to be the principal cause of female infertility. An overweight man has a higher risk of having abnormal sperm.
• Radiotherapy – If radiation therapy was aimed near the man’s or the woman’s reproductive organs, it may affect fertility.

Some of the Common causes associated with Infertility in Women

• Thyroid disorders – Common problems caused by thyroid dysfunction are anovulation (i.e., no ovulation, or release of an egg), a shortened luteal phase, and menstrual irregularities.
• Luteal phase syndrome – A short luteal phase usually means that the uterine lining starts to shed before the fertilized egg has had a chance to implant. A luteal phase under 10 days is considered to be a problem.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – One of the main causes of infertility in women due to hormonal imbalances: progesterone deficiency as a result of estrogen excess and androgen excess as a result of insulin resistance. It is estimated that 10–20% of women today have PCOS.
• Autoimmune infertility – Diseases such as lupus, autoimmune thyroiditis, and diabetes are linked to decreased fertility. Autoimmune thyroiditis has also been correlated to infertility and miscarriage, even in the absence of hypothyroidism.
• Problems in the uterus or fallopian tubes – If there is something wrong in the fallopian tubes or in the uterus, such as fibroids or endometriosis, a woman may not be able to conceive naturally.
• Ovulation disorders – Problems with ovulation are the most common cause of infertility in women.

Testing and Diagnosis

General physical exam

Blood tests can aid in determining causes of infertility. Some include:

• Thyroid (TSH, T3, rT3, and T4 and antibodies)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol, and progesterone
• Testosterone and DHEA-S – to make sure pituitary function is healthy, (changes in pituitary function can cause menstrual cycle and ovulation problems; steroid hormones should also be checked)
• Adrenal function tests – to make sure adrenal response is healthy
• Blood sugars and insulin levels – to rule out diabetes and PCOS
• Iron deficiency

At-home methods to predict ovulation

There are three types of at-home methods useful for predicting ovulation:

Self-examination of vaginal discharge is a method to predict ovulation, but is also more subject to error. Prior to ovulation, the mucus is stretchy, clear, thin, and slippery, a necessary environment for the survival and transport of sperm. When mucus can be stretched between the thumb and index finger into a thin strand 5–7.5 cm long, ovulation is about to occur and a woman is entering her most fertile period. If a thin layer is placed on a glass slide, a fern-like appearance is present during ovulation. Post ovulation, no fern-like appearance will be present because the mucus becomes too thick and less conducive to sperm survival.

• Ovulation predictor kits are the most accurate method. The test detects an increased level of LH present in an early morning urine sample 1–2 days before ovulation.

Additional tests

A number of other tests can be done to help determine the cause of infertility in women, including the following:

• Chlamydia test – If the woman is found to have chlamydia, which can affect fertility, she will be prescribed antibiotics to treat it.
• Pelvic ultrasound – High-frequency sound waves create an image of an organ in the body, which in this case is the woman’s uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
• Laparoscopy – To detect endometriosis, scarring, blockages, and some irregularities of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
• 25-hydroxy vitamin D status – Due to the influence on infertility and the increasing number of people who have vitamin D deficiency, it would be beneficial to have testing done.

Natural Remedies for Infertility in Women

Formulas that contain myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol to address PCOS.

Formula to address estrogen dominance such as calcium D-glucarate and Indole-3-carbinol.

Omega-3 (EPA and DHA) are directly correlated with improved sperm motility, concentration, and structure. The rate of successful pregnancies in previously infertile couples increased by 40% when the level of omega-3 fatty acids was increased. For women, albeit after pregnancy, studies show that omega-3 FA during pregnancy lowers the risk of premature birth.

Vitamin D is positively correlated with sperm motility and normal structure and is emerging as an important factor influencing female fertility and IVF outcome.

Chasteberry is helpful in correcting hormone deficiency of either estrogen or progesterone and in PCOS-related infertility.

Iron deficiency or borderline low iron may result in women having difficulty conceiving.

Probiotics balances the microflora of the vagina. Imbalances in the microflora have been linked to reproductive failure and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm labour, miscarriage, and spontaneous preterm birth.

Speak to the knowledgeable staff at The Vitamin Shop for more information on natural supplements to help with infertility.