| Infertility |
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| Trying to Conceive |
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Infertility is a source of pain for many couples. For the infertile women it seems like everywhere she turns there is a woman with lots of children, a woman who doesn’t care for the children she has, and women dealing with unplanned children. She looks on while her womb and arms are empty. Infertility is usually as defined as the following: being unable to become pregnant or once pregnant there are ongoing miscarriages. A woman is usually considered infertile after being unable to become pregnant for a year. The causes can be simple or complex. The process of becoming pregnant has the following steps: * Healthy viable sperm must be present * A healthy egg must be released from the ovary * The egg and sperm must meet * The fertilized egg must through the fallopian tube to the uterus * The fertilized egg must implant (attach) into the uterus * The egg needs to grow and develop until term * The cervix must remain closed until close to the time birth Hormonal balance plays a big roll in fertility, so an imbalance can affect infertility. Hormones will make sure there is the lubricating secretions about mid-cycle that allow the sperm to live longer and to provide a way for it to start its journey traveling from the vagina, to the uterus, up the fallopian tube to the awaiting egg. Hormones control sexual interest and egg release. Often this is the first thing that a health care professional will test. To be fertile may just mean a balancing of hormones. Some women’s natural lubrication may destroy healthy sperm before they get anywhere near the egg. Dryness can also hinder the sperm’s journey. Women who are unaware of the need for the lubrication may use douches that remove the natural lubrication, creating an unhealthy environment for sperm. There are women who are unaware how their cycles work and are trying near their monthly period to get pregnant. Most women will ovulate 10-14 days BEFORE the first day of their period. It is during that time, if there is sperm present or arrives before the egg dies, that a woman becomes pregnant. Stress can be external or internal. Stress can create infertility while the body waits for it to be “safe” to carry a child. A few months of unsuccessful attempts at becoming pregnancy can create stress that will interfere with getting pregnant. Jobs, families, relationships, and illness can all create infertility producing stress. Sadly for some woman, it is a long process to find out the cause of infertility. A woman who has some of the following medical issues may never be able to become pregnant: * Missing or unattached ovaries * Blocked or missing fallopian tubes * Medical condition that affects fertility permanently * Non-functioning ovaries * Uterine fibroids * Untreated STD’s Modern technology has alternatives for women who suffer from infertility. It can be a time consuming, expensive, and heart-breaking path to travel with the possibility of no baby at the end. Each couple needs to individually decide how far to go, for how long, and hard they are going to try. In the end there will still be infertile women who must decide on adopting or never having children. 
 
 
 
 
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