Female Fertility Flashcards
Female Fertility: Structural Abnormalities
- Cervical stenosis: Narrow / closed cervix.
- Uterine septum: Divided uterus
- Uterine polyps and fibroids
- Fallopian tube obstruction: Pelvic inflammation, STDs
- (e.g., chlamydia), endometriosis
- Ovarian cysts: Can cause infection and scars of fallopian tubes.
Female Fertility: Hormone issues
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
- Hyper or hypothyroidism
- Amenorrhoea due to hypothalamic dysfunction, pituitary tumours, excess exercise, undereating, low BMI, high stress (ACTH / cortisol).
- Obesity / insulin resistance
- Premature ovarian failure
Oestrogen Dominance: Signs and Symptoms
Heavy and painful periods
PMS and irritability
Shorter menstrual cycles (esp. luteal phase)
Headaches, Poor memory, Brain fog
Fibroids and uterine polyps
Endometriosis
PCOS
Miscarriages
Hypothyroidism
Progesterone Dominance: Signs and symptoms
Long luteal phase
Light periods
Decreased libido
Anxiety / panic attacks
Dizziness
Optimising oestrogen / progesterone ratio
- Reduce stress
- Optimise liver function
- Avoid endocrine disruptors
- Avoid alcohol
- Reduce body weight if obese - oestrogen is stored and produced in fat cells.
- Optimise digestion and elimination
Female Fertility Environmental Risk Factors
Drugs: NSAIDs, Chemo
Excessive radiation
Environmental toxin exposure
Chronic alcohol consumption
Caffeine
Xenoestrogens, pesticides and endocrine disruptors
Female Fertility: Immunological factors
- Tissue type compatibility (paternal HLA proteins)
- Blood clotting defects
- High uterine NK cells
- Autoimmunity
Female Fertility: Immunological factors - Antibodies
- Anti-sperm antibodies (ASAs)
- Antiphospholipid syndrome -increases risk of blood clotting and ↑ miscarriage and stillbirth risk.
- Thyroid antibodies - ↑ miscarriage and pre-term labour risk.
- Ovarian antibodies -affects egg and embryo development, ↓ fertilisation and pregnancy rates, implantation failure
