Why Cant People Get Pregnant

Can I Get A Covid

The CDC and the World Health Organization have indicated that the vaccine should be administered to those who are pregnant. Additionally, several professional societies have advocated for pregnant people to be vaccinated. However, if you have specific questions or concerns about your own health status, you should discuss them with your healthcare provider.

While the overall risk of experiencing a severe course of COVID-19 is low, if youre pregnant you have an increased risk of getting severely ill if you contract COVID-19.

Your Body Is Under Too Much Stress

Dont write off stress as a factor in preventing pregnancy. The stress hormone, cortisol, can throw all other hormones out of whack, which can mess with your regular ovulation or period. Managing chronic stress through mindfulness practices, and mind-body practices like yoga, acupuncture, and massage, may be able to help. And its easier said than done, but stressing about the process of getting pregnant wont help your chances either.

Plan For A Healthy Pregnancy

If treatment is successful and you become pregnant, the fertility clinic will likely monitor you for the first several weeks of the pregnancy, and you may need to continue some hormonal treatments or injections.

Depending on the cause of your infertility, and whether you conceive multiples, you may need closer monitoring during your pregnancy. Pregnancy after infertility is not the same as an “easily conceived” pregnancy. Even deciding when to tell people you’re expecting can be stressful. If you have infertile friends, you may experience survivor’s guilt or feel like you’re leaving them behind.

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Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant

Once youve made the choice to try, any delay can seem like youre waiting for something that will never happen. Every trip to the store can bring reminders of all the other pregnancies going on around you. Every monthly cycle without success can bring disappointment or feelings of failure.

You may begin to feel like there is something wrong. After all, how is it possible for babies to be born every day, but not for you to get pregnant?!?!? You may become anxious, depressed, or even desperate.

Dont worry if you are feeling these ways, youre not alone. Allow us to pass along some info on realistic timing, the most common fertility issues, and some ways to increase your chances.

Knowledge is power, and while we certainly cant guarantee that youll be pregnant next month, knowing more may help you on a path to your own baby.

If youre in your first months of trying for a baby, it might be surprising to you that getting pregnant isnt happening as quickly as you expected .

Most healthy couples will conceive within one year if they are actively trying to conceive.

If youre under age 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for a year, you should talk to your doctor about seeing a specialist. If youre over 35, youll want to see a specialist after 6 months of actively trying.

Potential causes of infertility include:

Safety During Pregnancy And Breastfeeding

Vaccination is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, with health benefits for both the pregnant person and their baby.

Pregnancy increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Getting this disease during pregnancy increases the risk for:

• stillbirth
• premature birth
• pre-eclampsia

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that people who are planning a pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding get a:

• complete series with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
• booster dose when eligible

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can help prevent serious illness, hospitalization and pregnancy complications.

Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing from real-world use. Hundreds of thousands of pregnant or breastfeeding people around the world have safely received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Large studies found no increase in rates of:

• pregnancy loss
• preterm birth
• stillbirth

Vaccinated people can pass antibodies to their baby through the placenta and through breastmilk. Evidence suggests that getting vaccinated during pregnancy may help prevent COVID-19 hospitalization among infants under 6 months of age.

Pregnant people can safely get vaccinated against COVID-19 at any time during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Learn more about:

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People With A Uterus And Ovaries

People who have a uterus and ovaries can become pregnant and give birth.

However, some AFAB people may take testosterone. Testosterone therapy helps suppress the effects of estrogen while stimulating the development of masculine secondary sex characteristics, including:

• muscle growth

suggests that menstruation usually ends within 12 months after starting testosterone therapy and often within 6 months, which can make conceiving more difficult but not impossible.

Although testosterone therapy does not make people infertile, a person may have a higher chance of placental abruption, preterm labor, anemia, and hypertension.

In a 2014 study, researchers surveyed 41 transgender men and gender nonconforming AFAB individuals who became pregnant and gave birth.

Of the individuals who reported using testosterone before pregnancy, 20% became pregnant before their menstrual cycle returned.

The authors of this study concluded that prior testosterone use did not lead to significant differences in pregnancy, delivery, or birth outcomes.

The authors also noted that a higher percentage of transgender men who reported previous testosterone use had a cesarean delivery compared with those who had no history of testosterone use.

These findings do not suggest that testosterone therapy makes people incapable of vaginal delivery, as 25% of the transgender men who had a cesarean delivery chose to do so based on their comfort levels and preferences.

possibility .

Reduce Your Caffeine Intake

Research shows that consuming too much caffeine while you are trying to conceive can increase the risk of miscarriage. The research shows that this applies to both women and men. Too much caffeine in pregnancy has also been shown to be harmful to the developing baby.

If youre planning to conceive, you and your partner should consider limiting your caffeine intake to 200mg a day.

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What Medicines Are Used To Treat Infertility In Women

Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include:

• Clomiphene citrate : This medicine causes ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland. It is often used in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome or other problems with ovulation. This medicine is taken by mouth.
• Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG : This medicine is often used for women who don’t ovulate due to problems with their pituitary gland. hMG acts directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. It is an injected medicine.
• follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH : FSH works much like hMG. It causes the ovaries to begin the process of ovulation. These medicines are usually injected.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog: These medicines are often used for women who don’t ovulate regularly each month. Women who ovulate before the egg is ready can also use these medicines. Gn-RH analogs act on the pituitary gland to change when the body ovulates. These medicines are usually injected or given with a nasal spray.
• Metformin : Doctors use this medicine for women who have insulin resistance and/or PCOS. This drug helps lower the high levels of male hormones in women with these conditions. This helps the body to ovulate. Sometimes clomiphene citrate or FSH is combined with metformin. This medicine is usually taken by mouth.
• Bromocriptine : This medicine is used for women with ovulation problems due to high levels of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that causes milk production.

Things To Do If You Want To Conceive But Are Having Trouble

Rachel Gurevich is a fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. She is a professional member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and has been writing about womens health since 2001. Rachel uses her own experiences with infertility to write compassionate, practical, and supportive articles.

Leyla Bilali, RN is a registered nurse, fertility nurse, and fertility consultant in the New York City area. She works in house at a reputable private clinic in New York City while also seeing her own clients through her concierge fertility consulting and nursing services business.

• Plan For a Healthy Pregnancy

If you’ve been trying for awhile and can’t get pregnant, you may feel at a loss for what to do. But there are steps you can, and should, take. Sometimes the cause of infertility is easy to diagnose and even to treat. Not everyone needs in vitro fertilization or other invasive, costly procedures.

If you’re under 35 and have been trying to conceive for a year, or if you’re over 35 and have been trying for six months, it’s time to get help. Or, if you’ve had two or more miscarriages back-to-back, you should see a professional. The same goes if you’re having any worrisome symptoms or have risk factors for infertility, even if you haven’t been trying for six months to a year.

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You’re Not At A Healthy Weight

Being either overweight or underweight can affect your ability to conceive, because it can change your ovulation patterns. PCOS is commonly associated with obesity because it affects the bodys ability to regulate insulin. It also contributes to irregular ovulation. Low body weight can lead to irregularity in your menstrual cycles too.

Its important to work towards a healthy weight, Dr. Uhler says. For people who are obese or overweight, losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of their weight can make a big difference in their ability to get pregnant, she adds.

Things To Do When Trying For A Baby

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HomePregnancyHubPlanning a pregnancyGetting pregnant 12 things to do when trying for a baby

There are things you can do now before you try for a baby that will affect your fertility and the health of your baby.

Your health before pregnancy will affect the lifelong health of your baby. By following the advice below you can:

• improve your fertility
• protect your babys future health
• bring down your risk of problems in pregnancy.

Once you start trying for a baby you won’t know you’re pregnant for the first few weeks.

So, if you’re trying for a baby, making these changes sooner rather than later will give you peace of mind when you get pregnant.

• Become more active if you are not already this has been shown to improve fertility and will make your pregnancy and baby healthier
• Have a cervical screening test if you havent had one in the last three years
• Dont take any new medication or stop taking existing medications without talking to your GP or healthcare professional
• Get tested for STIs if you think theres a possibility you may have one

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Have A Sexual Health Check

Sexually transmitted infections can affect your fertility, as well as any future pregnancy and baby.

If there is any reason to think you or your reproductive partner may have a STI, its important that you both get tested. The best places to go are a GUM clinic, sexual health clinic, your own doctor or a young peoples clinic.

How Long Should Women Try To Get Pregnant Before Calling Their Doctors

Most experts suggest at least one year. Women 35 or older should see their doctors after six months of trying. A woman’s chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30.

Some health problems also increase the risk of infertility. So, women should talk to their doctors if they have:

• Irregular periods or no menstrual periods
• Very painful periods
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• More than one miscarriage

It is a good idea for any woman to talk to a doctor before trying to get pregnant. Doctors can help you get your body ready for a healthy baby. They can also answer questions on fertility and give tips on conceiving.

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Undiagnosed Medical Conditions Or Medication Side Effects

Although these are some of the most common reasons for why someone can’t get pregnant, it’s certainly not all of them. Our expert warns that there are plenty more, including “various medical disease, effect of medications, rare genetic disorders” and other issues not relating to fertility at all.

If you have concerns about conception, pregnancy or anything in between, it’s best to speak to your GP who will be able to best advise on the situation.

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Are Vaccines Safe During Pregnancy

Certain vaccines are safe and recommended for women before, during, and after pregnancy to help keep them and their babies healthy. The antibodies mothers develop in response to these vaccines not only protect them, but also cross the placenta and help protect their babies from serious diseases early in life. Vaccinating during pregnancy also helps protect a mother from getting a serious disease and then giving it to her newborn.

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Existing Issues With Male Fertility

While there are many issues with male fertility that can be sorted out through lifestyle changes, some are problems that men are born with. If it’s a natural conception, there could be issues with a lacking or inadequate sperm count, reduced sperm motility or high abnormal forms of sperm.

“Most cases of abnormal semen parameters are unexplained, however in some cases it could be due to inherent defect in sperm production due to testicular damage or blockage in the outflow tract.” Dr Nandi says, “Some men have difficulties in erection or ejaculation.”

Whether or not this is the case, it’s important to look after the quality of sperm when trying for baby. “I would strongly advise men to avoid testosterone supplements to build muscle. This can have detrimental effect on sperm production,” Dr Nandi suggests.

“Any factors that can potentially increase the temperature of the scrotal area should be avoided as it can lead to DNA damage of the sperms, increase oxidative radicals. Research shows that even 1 degree centigrade rise in temperature can lead to 14% drop in sperm production. Prolonged sitting, driving, hot bath, saunas should be avoided.”

What Causes Infertility

There are lots of possible causes of infertility. Seeing a doctor that specializes in infertility can help you figure out whats causing your fertility problems and find the best treatments for you. Sometimes theres no known reason for infertility this is called unexplained infertility. Unexplained infertility can be really frustrating, but there are still usually treatment options that you can try.

Causes of infertility in cis women

Some common reasons for infertility in cis women include:

• untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea

• not ovulating

• your fallopian tubes are blocked so sperm cant get to your egg

• poor egg quality

Causes of infertility in cis men

The most common causes of infertility in cis men include:

• untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea

• low sperm count

• poor sperm motility

• sperm that arent formed correctly

• semen thats too thick for sperm to easily move around in it

• no sperm in your semen

Having too much or too little of some of the hormones that help your body make sperm can also lead to sperm-related problems that cause infertility.

Infertility can also be caused by a problem with ejaculation. If the tubes inside your penis or testicles are blocked, you may have a hard time ejaculating, or nothing comes out when you have an orgasm. Sometimes, ejaculation can send semen backward from your prostate into your bladder, instead of out of your penis.

If youre trans and using hormones

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Being A Bit Too Healthy

More often than not, it is perceived that being thin is having poor health. Let us understand that this is far from being true. Thin people are often asked to eat fat-enhancing food, just so that they can gain weight. If you are one of those people, remember, gaining too much weight too soon can hamper several functions that are going on inside your body. Many times, it could lead to obesity and trust me when I say this, obesity isnt just a bad thing for your health, its something that can prevent you as a couple from getting pregnant. Obesity can come in the way of ovulation and implantation, and can affect both men and women equally. Theres a thin line between being healthy and being a bit too healthy, which is being obese, so be careful. Even if one of the partners is obese, it could hamper the chances of getting pregnant.

What Is The Prognosis For People Who Have Infertility

Approximately 9 out of 10 couples get pregnant after undergoing fertility treatments. Success rates vary depending on the cause of infertility, the couples ages and other factors. In general:

• Each IUI attempt has a 20% success rate.
• An estimated 1 in 2 women under the age of 35 conceive with ART. That number drops to 1 in 30 women for women in their early to mid-40s.

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Receiving A Diagnosis Of Infertility

Rachel Gurevich is a fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. She is a professional member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and has been writing about womens health since 2001. Rachel uses her own experiences with infertility to write compassionate, practical, and supportive articles.

Leyla Bilali, RN is a registered nurse, fertility nurse, and fertility consultant in the New York City area. She works in house at a reputable private clinic in New York City while also seeing her own clients through her concierge fertility consulting and nursing services business.

• After an Infertility Diagnosis

Receiving a diagnosis of infertility can be both emotionally difficult and a relief. Getting a name for what you’re going through can help you seek out the help you need. At the same time, admitting that something is wrong isn’t easy.

A diagnosis of infertility is usually given when a couple, after a year of trying to conceive, does not become pregnant. If a couple is trying to have their first child, the diagnosis given is primary infertility. If they are trying to have a subsequent child, a diagnosis of secondary infertility is given.

A couple who suffers from recurrent miscarriages is also given a diagnosis of infertility.