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Female cycle
& fertility

Female cycle 
& fertility

What affects your fertility -  Health conditions

“Fertility” is a complicated subject – it covers not only how likely you are to get pregnant but also how likely you are to keep a pregnancy going to full term AND how healthy your baby might be.

There are a lot of factors that can affect your fertility in different ways. Age is probably the biggest one, but your overall health and wellbeing can also have an impact. Here’s our quick guide to health conditions that commonly affect fertility in women. If you think you might have any of these, talk to your doctor to see if there’s anything that can be done for you:

Ovulation issues

Polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility (PCOS)
PCOS can cause a number of issues, including irregular or even absent periods. This means your body isn’t ovulating normally, so it’s much harder to get pregnant.
Thyroid issues and fertility

Having either an over- active or underactive thyroid can prevent ovulation and affect your menstrual cycle, making conception and maintaining a pregnancy more difficult. An underactive thyroid can cause fatigue and weight gain, again affecting your libido and fertility, while an over-active thyroid can make you feel anxious with a fast heart rate. Read more in our article The Connection Between Thyroid Disorders and Infertility

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and conception

This is when your ovaries stop working in their normal way before the age of 40. It can resemble menopause, but it’s not exactly the same – you may still be able to get pregnant with POI, perhaps with assisted reproduction, but after menopause you can’t conceive naturally or spontaneously.

Reproductive organ system issues

Scarring
Surgery in the pelvic area and sometimes childbirth can result in scarring to the fallopian tubes, cervix or vagina. Scars like this can affect how those organs work, or make sex more difficult and uncomfortable.
Fibroids and fertility

A fibroid is a mass of cells that form into round shapes, usually found in the wall of the uterus. They aren’t cancerous, and they may not cause any problems at all, but sometimes they can form a physical block that prevents an egg travelling to the womb or implanting in the womb once fertilised. Fibroids are most common in women aged 30 to 50.

Learn more about fibroids and how they can affect fertility at talkingfibroids.com

A fibroid is a mass of cells that form into round shapes, usually found in the wall of the uterus. They aren’t cancerous, and they may not cause any problems at all, but sometimes they can form a physical block that prevents an egg travelling to the womb or implanting in the womb once fertilised. Fibroids are most common in women aged 30 to 50.
Learn more about fibroids and how they can affect fertility at talkingfibroids.com
Polyps, cysts and irregular periods

These growths can appear on and around the ovaries, cervix and womb. They are not usually cancerous, but in some cases they can become cancerous if they’re left untreated for a long time. Some cysts can be several centimetres across and cause a lot of discomfort.

Endometriosis and infertility

In endometriosis, tissue that usually grows inside the womb starts to grow outside of the uterus. This can lead to irregular periods, pain (which is sometimes debilitating) and lower fertility.

Read more about living with endometriosis at ENDOubt.info

In endometriosis, tissue that usually grows inside the womb starts to grow outside of the uterus. This can lead to irregular periods, pain (which is sometimes debilitating) and lower fertility.
Read more about living with endometriosis at ENDOubt.info
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

PID is an infection in your pelvic area that can cause damage and scarring on your reproductive system. Sometimes symptoms are mild, but occasionally they are more severe and can make you very unwell. PID is often an effect of sexually transmitted infections.

PID is an infection in your pelvic area that can cause damage and scarring on your reproductive system. Sometimes symptoms are mild, but occasionally they are more severe and can make you very unwell. PID is often an effect of sexually transmitted infections.

Medicines

Read more about medicines in our article Can certain medications affect fertility?

Read more about medicines in our article Can certain medications affect fertility?
Painkillers and fertility

Long-term use of some painkillers have been linked to lower fertility in men and women, and may affect the health of a developing baby. Always follow a doctor or pharmacist’s advice when using painkillers.

Chemotherapy

There are lots of different medicines used in chemotherapy, and some of them can make you infertile permanently. If you are having or about to have chemotherapy, your healthcare team should talk through your options with you before you go ahead.

Treatments for psychosis and fluid retention

Some medicines like antipsychotics (e.g. aripiprazole used for treating schizophrenia) and diuretics (e.g. spironolactone for oedema) can affect your menstrual cycle and fertility while you are taking them.

Whole body medical issues

Menopause and fertility

While it’s still possible to get pregnant in the perimenopausal stage (the months or years before your periods stop), the chances are extremely low. Once your periods stop for good, it means you don’t ovulate anymore and it’s no longer possible to get pregnant naturally.

Stress and your period

Being constantly strung out over long periods of time can have a huge effect on your physical and mental wellbeing. There are lots of complex processes at play so it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how or why stress affects fertility, but taking more time to properly unwind can’t hurt, and may make sex more appealing too.

Smoking, drinking, drugs and infertility

Smoking and vaping have a negative effect on almost every aspect of health, including fertility, and smokers tend to have more problems getting pregnant than non-smokers.

Read more in our articles Put It Out: Smoking’s Impact on Fertility and Does Vaping Affect Fertility?

Drinking isn’t directly linked to infertility, but if you are often drinking large amounts you increase your chances of problems like injuries, poisoning and certain diseases – not to mention making poor choices!

Similarly, illicit drugs may not affect fertility directly but they can effect a developing baby. People with addictions are also more likely to do risky things like driving while under the influence, which in turn raises the risk of potentially life-threatening injuries.

Smoking and vaping have a negative effect on almost every aspect of health, including fertility, and smokers tend to have more problems getting pregnant than non-smokers.
Drinking isn’t directly linked to infertility, but if you are often drinking large amounts you increase your chances of problems like injuries, poisoning and certain diseases – not to mention making poor choices!

Similarly, illicit drugs may not affect fertility directly but they can effect a developing baby. People with addictions are also more likely to do risky things like driving while under the influence, which in turn raises the risk of potentially life-threatening injuries.

Weight and fertility

Being overweight OR underweight can have an effect on fertility. Learn more about low body weight affects your cycle in Wat affects your cycle – environment and lifestyle and the effect of obesity on fertility in our article Does weight gain lead to fertility loss?

Remember that every woman is different – if any of these issues affects you, it may not necessarily mean you can’t have a baby either now or in the future. In general, having a healthy lifestyle and getting help for any medical problems is the best way you can take some control of your fertility.

What affects your fertility - Health conditions

“Fertility” is a complicated subject – it covers not only how likely you are to get pregnant but also how likely you are to keep a pregnancy going to full term AND how healthy your baby might be.

There are a lot of factors that can affect your fertility in different ways. Age is probably the biggest one, but your overall health and wellbeing can also have an impact. Here’s our quick guide to health conditions that commonly affect fertility in women. If you think you might have any of these, talk to your doctor to see if there’s anything that can be done for you:

Ovulation issues

Polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility (PCOS)
Effects
PCOS can cause a number of issues, including irregular or even absent periods. This means your body isn’t ovulating normally, so it’s much harder to get pregnant.
Thyroid issues and fertility
Effects
Having either an over- active or underactive thyroid can prevent ovulation and affect your menstrual cycle, making conception and maintaining a pregnancy more difficult. An underactive thyroid can cause fatigue and weight gain, again affecting your libido and fertility, while an over-active thyroid can make you feel anxious with a fast heart rate. Read more in our article The Connection Between Thyroid Disorders and Infertility
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and conception
Effects
This is when your ovaries stop working in their normal way before the age of 40. It can resemble menopause, but it’s not exactly the same – you may still be able to get pregnant with POI, perhaps with assisted reproduction, but after menopause you can’t conceive naturally or spontaneously.

Reproductive organ system issues

Scarring
Effects
Surgery in the pelvic area and sometimes childbirth can result in scarring to the fallopian tubes, cervix or vagina. Scars like this can affect how those organs work, or make sex more difficult and uncomfortable.
Fibroids and fertility
Effects
A fibroid is a mass of cells that form into round shapes, usually found in the wall of the uterus. They aren’t cancerous, and they may not cause any problems at all, but sometimes they can form a physical block that prevents an egg travelling to the womb or implanting in the womb once fertilised. Fibroids are most common in women aged 30 to 50.
Learn more about fibroids and how they can affect fertility at talkingfibroids.com

A fibroid is a mass of cells that form into round shapes, usually found in the wall of the uterus. They aren’t cancerous, and they may not cause any problems at all, but sometimes they can form a physical block that prevents an egg travelling to the womb or implanting in the womb once fertilised. Fibroids are most common in women aged 30 to 50.

Learn more about fibroids and how they can affect fertility at talkingfibroids.com

Polyps, cysts and irregular periods
Effects
These growths can appear on and around the ovaries, cervix and womb. They are not usually cancerous, but in some cases they can become cancerous if they’re left untreated for a long time. Some cysts can be several centimetres across and cause a lot of discomfort.
Endometriosis and infertility
Effects
In endometriosis, tissue that usually grows inside the womb starts to grow outside of the uterus. This can lead to irregular periods, pain (which is sometimes debilitating) and lower fertility.
Read more about living with endometriosis at ENDOubt.info

In endometriosis, tissue that usually grows inside the womb starts to grow outside of the uterus. This can lead to irregular periods, pain (which is sometimes debilitating) and lower fertility.

Read more about living with endometriosis at ENDOubt.info

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Effects
PID is an infection in your pelvic area that can cause damage and scarring on your reproductive system. Sometimes symptoms are mild, but occasionally they are more severe and can make you very unwell. PID is often an effect of sexually transmitted infections.
PID is an infection in your pelvic area that can cause damage and scarring on your reproductive system. Sometimes symptoms are mild, but occasionally they are more severe and can make you very unwell. PID is often an effect of sexually transmitted infections.

Medicines

Read more about medicines in our article Can certain medications affect fertility?
Read more about medicines in our article Can certain medications affect fertility?
Painkillers and fertility
Effects
Long-term use of some painkillers have been linked to lower fertility in men and women, and may affect the health of a developing baby. Always follow a doctor or pharmacist’s advice when using painkillers.
Chemotherapy
Effects
There are lots of different medicines used in chemotherapy, and some of them can make you infertile permanently. If you are having or about to have chemotherapy, your healthcare team should talk through your options with you before you go ahead.
Treatments for psychosis and fluid retention
Effects
Some medicines like antipsychotics (e.g. aripiprazole used for treating schizophrenia) and diuretics (e.g. spironolactone for oedema) can affect your menstrual cycle and fertility while you are taking them.

Whole body medical issues

Menopause and fertility
Effects
While it’s still possible to get pregnant in the perimenopausal stage (the months or years before your periods stop), the chances are extremely low. Once your periods stop for good, it means you don’t ovulate anymore and it’s no longer possible to get pregnant naturally.
Stress and your period
Effects
Being constantly strung out over long periods of time can have a huge effect on your physical and mental wellbeing. There are lots of complex processes at play so it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how or why stress affects fertility, but taking more time to properly unwind can’t hurt, and may make sex more appealing too.
Smoking, drinking, drugs and infertility
Effects
Smoking and vaping have a negative effect on almost every aspect of health, including fertility, and smokers tend to have more problems getting pregnant than non-smokers.
Drinking isn’t directly linked to infertility, but if you are often drinking large amounts you increase your chances of problems like injuries, poisoning and certain diseases – not to mention making poor choices!

Similarly, illicit drugs may not affect fertility directly but they can effect a developing baby. People with addictions are also more likely to do risky things like driving while under the influence, which in turn raises the risk of potentially life-threatening injuries.

Smoking and vaping have a negative effect on almost every aspect of health, including fertility, and smokers tend to have more problems getting pregnant than non-smokers.

Read more in our articles Put It Out: Smoking’s Impact on Fertility and Does Vaping Affect Fertility?

Drinking isn’t directly linked to infertility, but if you are often drinking large amounts you increase your chances of problems like injuries, poisoning and certain diseases – not to mention making poor choices!

Similarly, illicit drugs may not affect fertility directly but they can effect a developing baby. People with addictions are also more likely to do risky things like driving while under the influence, which in turn raises the risk of potentially life-threatening injuries.

Weight and fertility
Effects
Being overweight OR underweight can have an effect on fertility. Learn more about low body weight affects your cycle in What affects your cycle – environment and lifestyle and the effect of obesity on fertility in our article Does weight gain lead to fertility loss?
Remember that every woman is different – if any of these issues affects you, it may not necessarily mean you can’t have a baby either now or in the future. In general, having a healthy lifestyle and getting help for any medical problems is the best way you can take some control of your fertility.

Fertility Age

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References

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