What is female fertility?

Female fertility is being able to get pregnant. Have you and your partner been trying to get pregnant by having sex without birth control for at least one year with no success? Not getting pregnant in that time might make you wonder how fertile you are. Anyone can be affected by fertility concerns or problems.

What causes female fertility problems?

Factors that can have an impact on female fertility include:

• Trouble releasing eggs, called ovulating, or trouble with regular periods. Hormone-related conditions can affect the release of eggs from the ovaries. These conditions include polycystic ovary syndrome, high prolactin hormone levels and thyroid conditions. Other conditions that may change ovulation or periods are poorly controlled diabetes and some autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
• Uterine or cervical conditions. This includes growths in the uterus, such as polyps or fibroids.
• Fallopian tube damage or blockage. This can be in one or both tubes through which eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus. These tubes are the fallopian tubes. Often the cause is pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Having the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus grow outside the uterus. This is called endometriosis.
• Early menopause, also called primary ovarian insufficiency. This happens when the ovaries stop working and periods stop before age 40.
• Bands of scar tissue that bind organs together. These bands are called pelvic or uterine adhesions. They can happen after a pelvic infection, appendicitis, or abdominal or pelvic surgery.
• Aging. Waiting to try to get pregnant can lower the chance of being able to conceive. As you move closer to your 40s, you lose eggs at a faster rate. And the eggs you have are less likely to become fertile.

What can I do to increase my fertility?

Healthy lifestyle choices can help. Take steps to:

• Stay at a healthy weight. Being too overweight or too underweight can keep you from releasing eggs, called ovulation, and having regular cycles.
• Prevent sexually transmitted infections. Infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea are a leading cause of not being able to conceive.
• Try not to work the night shift. Working the night shift all the time might affect your hormone levels. This can raise the risk of not being fertile. If you do work the night shift, try to get enough sleep when you're not working.