The signs of infertility may differ from one person to another, but the first and most common sign is the failure to achieve pregnancy after a couple has been having unprotected sexual intercourse for one year without any form of contraception. Being healthy, having normal and regular menstrual cycles and a healthy sexual drive do not exempt you from being infertile.
If you feel that you are infertile or if you suspect that you are, you should ask yourself and your partner important questions and try to answer them with all honesty so that you can better evaluate your present condition. Most of these questions are related to your menstrual cycle and your age.
With regards to age, are you 35 years old or older? Infertility is quite common to individuals whose age is more than 35 years old compared to individuals who are in their 20′s or younger. For example, a woman who is 30 years old has 20% chance of achieving pregnancy in any cycle, while a woman who is 40 years old will experience a drop in conception rates and percentage may go down as low as 5%. So if you are in your 30′s and have been trying real hard to get pregnant for 6 months without success, it is better to consult your doctor so you can discuss any fertility issues with him.
With regards to menstrual cycles, you have to know if your cycle is regular or irregular. An irregular menstrual cycle can suggest problems with fertility, it is sort of a warning signal that something is not right. Although this is not conclusive nor definitive. It is best that further diagnostic examinations be done to determine any fertility issues or any underlying medical conditions that can affect fertility. A normal menstrual cycle may run for 24 to 35 days. Any cycle that fall out of this period is considered irregular or abnormal.
Another thing you need to be aware of about your menstrual cycle is the amount of blood that flows from you each time you have your period. Is it light or heavy? Do you feel severe pain or intense abdominal cramps? Normal bleeding usually lasts for 3 to 7 days. If your period is too light or exceptionally heavy, you may need to seek medical attention. When you’re trying to get pregnant, any variance from what is considered normal should be noted and taken into consideration. All these should be discussed with your health care provider.
Lastly, you should also check if your male partner has been experiencing any ejaculatory issues and signs of impotence. Unlike in females, the detection of male infertility may require more sophisticated tests like sperm count and sperm motility tests.
