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Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Infertility in Women - Female Infertility

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Infertility is defined as a couple's inability to become pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected sex. Female infertility means the male is unable to impregnate the female because of female factors.

What is going on in the body?

Certain events must take place in a woman's body for pregnancy to occur:

attachment of a fertilized egg to the lining of the uterus

ovulation, which is the release of an egg from the ovary

the uniting of the egg and a man's sperm

Factors that interfere with these events are known as female factors. The inability to get pregnant may be caused by conditions in either partner. It is estimated that 30% of infertility is caused by male factors. An additional 30% is caused by female factors. The remaining 40% is caused by a combination of female and male factors.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

There are many female factors that can make a couple unable to become pregnant. These may include conditions such as the following:

certain inherited conditions

endometriosis, a condition in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows in other parts of the body

hormone imbalances, such as hypothyroidism

polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition that interferes with normal release of eggs

Diseases also can be a factor in infertility, for example:

autoimmune disorders, in which the body produces antibodies to fetal tissue

diseases such as diabetes

eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa

pelvic inflammatory disease, which is an infection of the female pelvic organs

sexually transmitted disease, such as Chlamydia trachomatis\. Sexually transmitted disease refers to any contagious disease transmitted from one person to another during sexual contact. ',CAPTION,'Chlamydia');" onmouseout="return nd();">chlamydia or Neisseria gonorrhoeae\ bacteria. The infection is usually acquired through sexual contact. ',CAPTION,'Gonorrhea in Females');" onmouseout="return nd();">gonorrhea

Additional factors in infertility include the following:

chronic vaginal discharge

congenital abnormalities of the uterus

ectopic pregnancy, or implanting of the fertilized egg outside the uterus

emotional stress

excess caffeine and alcohol intake

excess weight loss or weight gain

exposure to diethylstilbestrol, also known as DES, as an infant in utero

irregular periods or menstrual cycles

previous elective surgical abortion or elective medical abortion

scarring of the fallopian tubes from abdominal or pelvic surgery

smoking

strenuous exercise

total lack of menstruation

two or more previous miscarriages

use of an intrauterine device also called an IUD, which is a form of birth control

uterine fibroids or polyps

Women over the age of 35 are more likely to be infertile.

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