Why you cannot conceive? 5 possible reasons

If you’ve been trying to conceive and haven’t had any luck yet, you’re not alone. According to one WHO study, 48 million couples and 186 million individuals have infertility globally.

The reasons for this vary from woman to woman and from couple to couple. Whatever the reason, it can be extremely frustrating not being able to have children. 

In this article, we’re going to go through 5 possible reasons why you cannot conceive, so you can do something about it and start setting up your due date calculator in no time.

Anovulation

Anovulation happens when an egg (ovum) doesn’t release from your ovary during your menstrual cycle. An egg is needed to have a pregnancy. Since multiple hormones are involved in ovulation, there are many causes of anovulation. Chronic anovulation is a common cause of infertility.

If you don’t ovulate, it makes conceiving practically impossible. Your body relies on regular menstrual cycles so that the lining of your uterus builds up in preparation for pregnancy. If no egg is released, there will be no fertilizable tissue available and thus nothing to implant in the uterus if sperm does manage to find its way there—it’s like trying to plant a seed in hard clay soil instead of soft loamy dirt!

Underlying health conditions

Underlying health conditions can affect your fertility. For example, a thyroid imbalance or undiagnosed diabetes could lead to infertility in both male and female partners. Some autoimmune diseases like lupus can also cause infertility.

Although these underlying health conditions will not directly affect the sperm count or egg quality, they can still impair your ability to conceive naturally. In fact, several other conditions may not be as obvious but still impact your ability to conceive.

Stress

Stress can seriously mess with your hormones and make it difficult to conceive.

Stress can cause your body to produce higher cortisol levels, which can interfere with ovulation. Several studies have underlined a possible relationship between high levels of perceived stress and higher cortisol levels and infertility. As another study found: “High-stress women are likely to have low progesterone levels at their peak time for conception.”

Lifestyle Factors

Several lifestyle factors can affect fertility in women. Smoking, alcohol and drugs, unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise are just some of these factors.

Being significantly overweight or underweight is known to disrupt fertility. Exercising excessively or not at all can also cause problems getting pregnant.

If you’re trying to get pregnant, you must start by living a healthier lifestyle.

Inadequate Sperm Count

In more than 30 percent of infertility cases, there’s a problem with sperm, such as low sperm count or abnormal sperm movement or shape. 

If you are over 35, having regular checkups with a doctor who has experience treating infertility issues in men is essential. Your doctor may recommend taking fertility drugs to help stimulate the production of more good quality motile sperm that can fertilize an egg during IUI cycles.

If you’ve been unsuccessfully trying to conceive for 12 months or six months if you’re 35 or older, consult a fertility specialist. They can offer treatments and emotional support and refer you to various resources.

You may be wondering: what makes a fertility specialist different from an ordinary doctor?

The sooner this problem gets addressed by someone who knows what they’re doing and has invested their entire career into helping couples conceive, the better chance you’ll have at achieving success!

So there you have it: five reasons you may struggle to conceive. If you’re still having trouble, don’t give up hope. It can take time and many attempts before you get pregnant, but that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your body—it just means the right conditions haven’t been met yet.

Discuss your options for conceiving with a healthcare professional. Some treatments and techniques out there might help improve your chances of getting pregnant faster than before!