Deciding to have a baby is an exciting moment in one’s life.
However, for many people becoming pregnant can be a stressful experience. While most to-be mothers read up on how to boost fertility, there is also a need to know the signs of infertility.
5 Signs of Infertility
1) Start with Your Period
If you’ve experienced recent oddities in with your menstrual cycle, you might be dealing with infertility. Hormonal changes can suppress ovulation and/or be a sign of underlying health issues, like endometriosis.
The following experiences can be a sign of hormonal changes that can suppress ovulation or signal underlying health issues:
- Abnormal periods (becoming extremely heavy or extremely pale)
- Irregular periods (having periods less than 21 days apart or more than 35 days apart)
- Absence of a period, and
- Painful periods (or pain during sex).
It is important to communicate any changes in your menstrual cycle to you doctor.
2) A Change in Your Sex Drive
It is normal to have fluctuations in your sex drive over the course of the year. Often times stress, depression, or some medications can cause a dip in your desire.
However, if you’ve noticed a drastic drop in your sex drive, you will want to share this with your doctor as it can be a symptom of other health issues that can inhibit fertility.
3) Dark Hair Growth or Hair Loss
If dark hair is appearing on your upper lip, chest, and/or chin, your body might be producing androgens in excess.
In addition to unwanted hair growth, you might also experience the opposite: your hair thinning or falling out. This can be seen as a greater amount of hair in your shower drain or hair brush or a perceived change in texture and thickness in your hair.
This can be a sign of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
But the good news is that there are treatments, but talking with your doctor is step one.
4) Weight Gain
This isn’t weight gain related to overeating during the holidays or bailing on regular exercise. This is when you are keeping your normal routine that has routinely kept your weight stable, but you are gaining weight.
You will want to keep a log of your weight and activities if you suspect weight gain despite maintaining your regular lifestyle. Signs of infertility can often be found through tracking daily activities, what you eat, and exercise habits.
5) Skin Changes
If your skin starts to resemble that of a teenager, and your teenage years are far behind you, you need to consult your doctor.
This could be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, which is related to hormone imbalance and impacts ovulation.
Just as hormones cause teenage acne, they can also serve as a symptom of hormones impeding pregnancy.
Time to Talk to your Doctor
When trying to conceive, it is important to be observant of all these possible signs of infertility. Some might be rationalized as a result of stress at work or shrugged off as things that happen when we age. However, these changes could also signal a complication in conception.
If you’re experiencing any of these signs, don’t get worried. Request an appointment with us and let a fertility specialist help you.