What are the reasons for not getting pregnant?

Once you’ve made the decision to have a baby, any delay might seem like waiting for something that’ll never happen.

You track your cycle and have sex on all the fertile days, but regardless of how many tests you take, none turns out positive. Fortunately, you can increase your chances by understanding the reasons why you’re not getting pregnant.

Here are some of the common reasons:

Not Ovulating

Conception occurs when an egg and sperm fuse. So, if you’re not ovulating, you won’t be able to conceive.

Anovulation is often triggered by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid dysfunction, being overweight or underweight, excessive exercise, certain birth control, and stress.

Please note: You might still have regular menstrual cycles even when you’re not ovulating. Therefore, seek medical help to ascertain the cause of anovulation and possible treatment.

Male Infertility

Your partner’s infertility could be the reason why you’re not getting pregnant. Studies show that 30 per cent of infertile couples are attributed to men, and up to 90 per cent of these result from low sperm quality or/and low sperm count. BMI (body mass index), genetic disorders, health problems such as diabetes, or infections such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia could also play a role in male infertility. To establish the cause of male infertility, your doctor will have to perform a sperm analysis.

Age and Infertility

Technically, it gets harder for women over 35 years and men after 40 years to conceive because both the quality and quantity of eggs and sperms get lower.

Although it may seem like your body is making a new egg every month and you’re getting regular periods, this doesn’t necessarily mean your fertility is in order.

Fallopian Tube Obstruction

Scarred or blocked fallopian tubes can prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. Fertilisation takes place within the fallopian tubes, and hence anything blocking it can make conceiving more difficult.

Uterine Issues

In a normal pregnancy, a fertilized egg implants on the wall of the uterus. However, conditions such as endometriosis may cause the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bladder to stick together, affecting your ability to conceive. Other times, endometriosis can grow inside your ovary and form a cyst. This condition can be diagnosed through a physical examination of the uterine wall. If detected, a laparoscopy surgery may be required.

Underlying Medical Problems

Several underlying medical issues can affect your ability to get pregnant. That can include thyroid imbalance, autoimmune disorders, celiac diseases, undiagnosed diabetes, lupus, depression, STIs, and some prescribed medications.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility in women. It causes irregular ovulation because of the overproduction of oestrogen. If you’re experiencing other PCOS symptoms such as weight gain, depression, irregular cycle, acne, and excess hair growth, see your doctor for proper diagnosis.

Hormonal Imbalances

While the cause for hormonal imbalance is not necessarily your fault, doctors argue that there are certain things that can affect your hormone production and levels. These include:

• Obesity
• Stress
• Over-exercising (Causes low body fat, affecting your menstrual cycles and ovulation)
• Adrenal glands or thyroid dysfunction
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Certain medications
• Old age
• Food allergies
• Exposure to certain chemicals

Symptoms for hormonal imbalance may include thinning hair, skin issues, reduced sex drive, acne, hot flashes, irregular periods, excessive or absent menstrual cycles, and weight gain.

Using Counterproductive Products

The vagina is like a self-cleaning oven, and therefore it doesn’t require fancy products like douches to keep clean. Often, these products can inhibit your ability to conceive as some may contain spermicides that cause UTIs, damage sperm cells, and alter your vagina’s PH.

Bad Tracking

Chances of getting pregnant can drastically increase when you know your menstrual cycle length since you can work out your ovulation time. However, it can be tricky to know your fertile window if your periods are irregular.

Generally, women ovulate four days before or after the midpoint of their menstrual cycle. Having sex during this time gives you the best chance of getting pregnant.

Obsessive Tracking

On average, it takes a healthy couple a year to get pregnant if they have regular sex and don’t use contraceptives. So, you should give yourself at least six months of trying before you start worrying. Also, avoid being overly obsessed with tracking your menstrual cycle, as that can cause you unnecessary worries and stress.

Having Too Much or Too Little Sex

It’s good to keep track of your fertility days and engage in sex only during that period to increase your odds of getting pregnant. You may also want to avoid too much sex outside your fertile window, as that can deplete the sperm count.

Move Too Quickly after Intercourse

When you’re trying to get pregnant, remaining in bed for at least 20-30 minutes with your hips elevated can increase your chances of getting pregnant by at least 80 per cent.

Indulging In Too Much Alcohol or Smoking

Although you might want to engage in alcohol and smoking before you get pregnant, it can negatively affect your chances of conceiving.

A 2015 research found a connection between heavy drinking and difficulty conceiving. Besides, smoking ages the ovaries and lowers the supply of ovum in women, while it causes lower sperm count and lower sperm motility in men.

Too Much Caffeine

Scientific studies regarding intake of caffeine and conception are somehow conflicting. Some studies reveal that too much caffeine intake may trigger miscarriage, while others have linked too little caffeine to reduced fertility. Nonetheless, it’s wise to keep your coffee intake low for the sake of your baby.

Weight Issues

Whether you’re overweight or underweight, having a BMI outside the healthy zone may impede your efforts to conceive. That’s because weight can have an impact on your hormone function.

If you’re concerned about your weight, speak with your doctor or nutritionist on how to effectively and safely cut or gain weight. Also, talk to your partner because his weight can negatively affect his fertility too.

Overthinking, Stress, or Depression

Stressing too much or being depressed about getting pregnant can lower your chances of conceiving. A recent study unveiled that women with high alpha-amylase levels, an enzyme that marks stress, had a difficult time getting pregnant.

Suffering from Insomnia

Sleep plays a crucial role in our lives since it affects the quality of life, overall health, and, most importantly, fertility. Recent studies show that women who get less than eight hours of sleep are 15 per cent less likely to get pregnant than women who sleep eight to ten hours every night.

Excessive Exercise

While exercise is good for your physical and mental health, too much of it can inhibit your chances of getting pregnant. Too much exercise reduces your body fat, which can affect your menstrual cycles and ovulation.

Too Much Processed Meat

This primarily affects males. Eating high amounts of processed red meats lowers sperm count and leads to the production of slower swimming sperm. That’s because processed meats have high amounts of saturated fats. Instead, eating fish and chicken can help improve sperm counts and sperm quality.

Exposed to Radiation

Did you know that electromagnetic radiations emitted from mobile phones could damage your DNA and lower sperm quality? Cell phone radiations have been linked to lower sperm volume, concentration, count, motility, and viability.

You Are Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is likely to change your ovulation and menstrual cycles, which might deter you from getting pregnant.

Overuse of Lubricants

Most couples trying to have a baby don’t know lubricants can adversely affect sperm. Some lubricants contain spermicides and other ingredients that can interfere with sperm motility and lower your chances of getting pregnant.

Ignoring Check-ups

While you may not want to be a person who runs to a doctor every day, don’t ignore checking in with your doctor about your infertility worries. S/he may prescribe medicine to help you get pregnant. These fertility drugs work by causing your body to release hormones that trigger or regulate ovulation.

Final Thoughts…

Struggling with infertility can be physically and emotionally draining, but in most cases, the solution may be simpler than you think. Simple lifestyle changes such as taking a proper diet, cutting on drugs, watching weight, reducing stress, and exerting can go a long way in helping you get pregnant. If all else fails, you can schedule an appointment with your doctor to diagnose and treat the root cause of your infertility.