Infertility is a common problem that tends to affect a lot of couples. One of the first symptoms of infertility for most couples is them not being able to conceive naturally even after a year of trying to get pregnant. However, it is possible to suffer from infertility even if you have a healthy sex life, a regular cycle, and not have any of the risk factors commonly associated with infertility. However, some couples may experience certain risk factors or warning signs which may point to a fertility issue. Here are some of the most common ones.

Irregular menstrual cycles, cramps, excessive or insignificant bleeding

An infertility problem may be the root cause of a woman’s irregular menstrual cycle. If your menstrual cycle is unusually long or short, (more than 35 days and less than 24 days) or if you get your periods unpredictably and often without warning, you should consult with some of the best infertility clinics in Pune.

In addition to that, the amount of days you bleed too may point to an issue with infertility. For instance, it is normal to bleed for 3 to 7 days.  But you should consult with a specialist if your bleeding is excessive or too less. If your bleeding changes dramatically from one month to the next, or if you suffer from excessive menstrual cramps, you should see a specialist.

Advancing Age

With advancing age, the chances of infertility in couples increase. If a woman is over 35 years of age, her chances of conceiving during a particular cycle is only 20%, with that chance dropping to 5% after the age of 40.

Ejaculatory problems in men

As compared to female factor infertility, male factor infertility is less obvious and usually can only be determined through a series of tests aimed at finding out sperm count and sperm motility. However, ejaculatory problems in men may also be a symptom of infertility in some cases.

Overweight and underweight

You could have fertility issues if you are underweight or overweight. Too much exercise and poor dieting practises are other factors which may have an effect on fertility.

Recurrent miscarriages

If a woman has had more than 3 recurrent miscarriages, there is a chance that she may be experiencing issues with fertility. Miscarriages do take place in anywhere from 10% to 20% of pregnancies and most top infertility consultants in India do not consider this to be a defining factor related to infertility. However, after the 3^rd consecutive miscarriage, many specialists may advise you to look into the matter more closely.

The presence of chronic illnesses such as thyroid problems, diabetes, or hypertension

Fertility problems may also be caused by the presence and treatment of certain chronic illnesses such as hypothyroidism and diabetes. Irregular menstrual cycles may be caused by treatments such as the administration of antidepressants, insulin, and thyroid hormones.

Male factor infertility may also be caused by some hypertension medications and Tagamet, a medication that is used to treat peptic ulcers. Other issues that could result from these medications could be problems with sperm production and its ability to fertilize the egg. Men and women who are dealing with chronic illnesses and are taking certain medications to treat these illnesses should consult with a specialist.

Drinking alcohol and smoking

Drinking too much of alcohol and smoking in general has been known to affect couples attempting to get pregnant. Heavy drinking has been linked to both male and female infertility and smoking has been found to affect conception rates in women.