Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is a condition where the tissue that usually lines your womb (endometrium) grows into your uterine muscle. This can cause painful periods and make it harder to get pregnant.

Treatment options for adenomyosis include hormone therapy or surgery to remove the tissue that is causing pain, depending on what symptoms you have. If your condition has caused abnormal bleeding, other treatments may also be needed (like a hysterectomy). That said, there are currently no formal recommendations about treating adenomyosis to increase the chance of conception. So, it’s important to speak to your fertility specialist.

Uterine Malformations

Uterine malformations, such as a bicornuate uterus or Asherman’s Syndrome, can be congenital (something you are born with) or can be acquired. They can make it very difficult to get and stay pregnant.

A bicornuate or septate uterus is a congenital condition that causes a physical division in your womb. This can make it difficult for you to conceive naturally and can cause miscarriage if you do get pregnant. Asherman’s Syndrome, on the other hand, occurs where there are scars inside your uterus, which can cause it to become rigid. This can also make getting pregnant difficult and increase the risk of miscarriage if you do conceive. Surgery is the only treatment for uterine malformations – speak to your doctor and fertility specialist.

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (also known as Preterm Ovarian Failure) occurs when a woman experiences menopause before the age of 40. It can cause infertility and other health issues, such as osteoporosis. Premature Ovarian Failure is often caused by a medical condition, such as chemotherapy. It can also be the result of genetic abnormalities or autoimmune disease that attacks healthy ovarian tissue.

Symptoms of Premature Ovarian Failure include menstrual irregularities, such as heavy periods, irregular bleeding, and the absence of menstruation, hot flushes, and vaginal dryness.

If you start experiencing symptoms of Premature Ovarian Failure, it’s crucial that you speak with your doctor immediately and start looking into possible causes. You might also wish to take measures to protect their fertility, such as freezing your eggs.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection that can affect your reproductive organs, especially your fallopian tubes. Symptoms of PID include abdominal pain and tenderness, fever, unusual vaginal discharge with a foul odour, or menstrual bleeding between periods.

The symptoms can be mild to severe in some cases and may last from a few days to a few months. PID can cause infertility in severe cases or even lead to life-threatening complications, such as sepsis and ectopic pregnancy.

PID is usually caused by an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI), like chlamydia or gonorrhoea. In many cases, it can be treated with medications, and your fertility can be fully restored. However, if left untreated, it can cause a build-up of scar tissue that makes it difficult or impossible for an egg to travel down your fallopian tubes.

Cervical Mucous Problems

Your cervical mucous is meant to get thinner when you ovulate, allowing sperm to swim easily through your vaginal canal and fallopian tubes to reach the egg. However, if your cervical mucous is too thick or too acidic, it can be difficult for the sperm to find its way. Minor problems will often resolve themselves, but more severe problems can require hormonal medication or fertility treatments to overcome.