V. Reasons why you may not be getting pregnant – even if you are trying.

i. Ovulation Timing + Irregularities 

Understanding your menstrual cycle can be helpful. The first day is the day when you notice bright red blood and it ends the day before the next time you see bright red blood, it doesn’t matter how long the bleeding lasts.  Sex with intra-vaginal ejaculation must occur around the time of ovulation to maximize conception.

If you aren’t getting regular periods then chances are you aren’t ovulating, releasing an egg from the ovary, regularly and this can make it difficult to get pregnant. There are medications that can be very helpful to induce ovulation and/or regulate your cycle. These ovulation inducing agents can increase the likelihood of having twins. Consult your provider for more options and information.

 ii.  Blocked Fallopian Tubes

The fallopian tube is the site in a woman’s body where fertilization, the joining of the egg and the sperm, takes place.  If there is a blockage in the tube, then pregnancy is unlikely to occur.  The blockage can occur for unknown reasons or because of scar tissue from previous abdominal or pelvic surgery or infection.  An office procedure can be performed to see if the tubes are blocked.  The treatment for blocked tubes can be surgery or in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

 iii.   Uterine Anatomy

Uterine anatomy can also contribute to fertility issues. The cavity has to be able to receive and allow the embryo to implant and grow.  Certain conditions such as fibroids or polyps may complicate implantation and therefore reduce fertility.  A specialized sonogram, sono-hysterogram, can help better define the uterine anatomy.

  iv.  Cervical Mucous

In some cases, cervical mucous can prevent the sperm from swimming to the egg and therefore make conception difficult.  Sometimes adjusting that woman’s hormones can help.  Intrauterine insemination (IUI) may also be an option because this allows the sperm to bypass the cervix which can enhance the odds of conception.

 v.    Abnormal Sperm

In a man’s ejaculate he must have an adequate volume of fluid, enough sperm (sperm count), the sperm must look normal (morphology) and know how to swim (motility).  Healthy lifestyle habits maximize these factors.  In women exploring pregnancy as an individual or with a same sex partner, a sperm donor can be used and pregnancy can be facilitated with IUI or IVF.

.Verbena does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and is not a medical provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.