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Ovulation Problems: Signs to Look Out For

Since most cases of infertility are caused by problems with ovulation, knowing what signs to be aware of is important for those wanting start a family. On average, roughly 10% of women in the United States experience problems with fertility, so if you are facing any challenges, trust that you're never alone in finding a solution.

To give you a better idea of what female fertility issues (e.g., poor egg quality) couples may face along their journey, here are a few things to consider about ovulation and how it affects your chances.

What is Ovulation?

The ovulation process has several factors that are all crucial to the overall health of a pregnancy. 

Once a female begins her menstrual cycle, the hormonal changes will trigger the release of a matured egg from the ovaries. The egg travels through the fallopian tube and attaches itself to the uterine lining, where it awaits fertilization from sperm cells. Typically, the ovulation period lasts between 24 and 36 hours after an egg is released, and if fertilization doesn't occur within that time frame, the lining of the womb is shed, leading to the the next menstrual cycle. 

Essentially, the pathway of the egg and its condition are what's mainly at risk when dealing with ovulation problems. However, there are several other factors that can stifle development. 

Common Signs of Ovulation Issues

Quite often, the reason why ovulation becomes a problem for women is because of a hormonal imbalance throughout the body known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). As mentioned earlier, the release of certain hormones triggers the female reproductive to react accordingly. If hormones are being released at odd times or not at all, the ovulation cycle falters.

PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility, but its presence can be hard to detect without seeking help from a medical professional. If you or a loved one feels like PCOS may be present, here are some signs to look out for that could represent its onset:

  • Having irregular periods or no periods whatsoever
  • Constant hair growth on the chest, back, buttocks, or face
  • Hair loss or thinning hair from the scalp
  • Excessive weight gain
  • Consistent acne or oily skin
  • Trouble achieving pregnancy after continuous attempts for several months

Unfortunately, PCOS isn't the only problem women can face when trying to conceive. To give you a better idea of what challenges one might encounter, here are some other causes and warning signs to consider:

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

Also known as premature ovarian failure, POI causes a woman's ovaries to stop functioning before the age of 40. Typically, women over the age of 40 will begin to show signs of reduced fertility through irregular periods, but this change occurs at a much younger age, even affecting women in their early teens. Other symptoms of POI may include pain during sexual intercourse, a decreased sex drive, lack of concentration, night sweats, and irritability. 

Endometriosis

A disorder that causes the uterine lining (endometrium) to form on the outside of the uterus. The endometrium can grow on the ovaries, bowels, and upon tissues that line the pelvis, causing pain and discomfort. The most common sign of endometriosis is pelvic pain, but other symptoms can persist, such as painful periods, severe cramps, pain during sexual intercourse, painful bowel movements, and lower back pain. 

It's important to remember that although these can all be reasons for infertility, some women may not experience any of the symptoms. In addition, symptoms that do surface can range in their level of severity, which is why paying close attention to one's ability to get pregnant is the greatest indicator of fertility issues.

If pregnancy is still unsuccessful after multiple tries with respect to the menstrual cycle, then seeking medical attention may be the next step to pinpoint the issue.

 

Kofinas Fertility Group Can Help

Whether you're seeking treatment options or you're curious about your condition, you can rest assured that Kofinas Fertility Group is more than happy to help you along your journey. Our fertility specialists are distinguished by their extensive experience, emotional receptivity, and specialized surgical skill. We’re committed to taking every necessary approach to help you achieve a healthy pregnancy, and we offer many procedures that you won’t find at other fertility clinics.

It all starts with your fertility assessment. Our team will take the time to understand your fertility struggles and the cause of your issues. Once we know the source, we will design a treatment plan that directly solves the problem and increases your chances for a complication-free pregnancy. 

Patients all over the country have found great success with our support. Here is a quote from a patient that was shared on our Instagram account this year:

"I would like to commend, thank and show my love for everyone at Kofinas Fertility for what they do each day. Their team or surgeons, doctors, nurses, techs and additional staff are extremely knowledgeable, compassionate, informative and professional. We are currently 17 weeks pregnant thanks to them. I will be forever grateful."

Inspiring our patients with hope and happiness is our ultimate mission, and there are many others who have left our facilities with a newfound appreciation for the future. 

No matter what your issues may be, finding a solution only takes one appointment. Visit our site to schedule yours today.

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