Endocrine infertility is an irregularity or absence of ovulation caused by a complex of hormonal disorders. They can be caused by dysfunction in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and other organs of the endocrine system.
According to statistics, endocrine (hormonal) infertility accounts for about 40% of all forms of infertility. The disease is caused by complex abnormalities in the hormonal system responsible for the menstrual function.
Patients usually do not achieve their desired pregnancy after many years of marriage due to a lack of ovulation. If we are talking about men, with this form of the disease they have a deterioration in the quality of sperm.
The disease occurs due to disorders of hypothalamic-pituitary regulation. Endocrine infertility is successfully treated if timely identification and correction of the violations that led to its emergence. After treatment, patients need lifelong monitoring of sex hormone levels.
Causes of pathology
The most common causes of endocrine infertility include:
- disorders of ovulatory function;
- Pathologies of the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, glands of sexual secretion, thyroid;
- oncology;
- the predominance of male sex hormones in the female body;
- polycystic ovaries;
- overweight; hereditary factor;
- severe uterine bleeding;
- adrenal hyperplasia;
- congenital abnormalities of the genitals;
- Reduced concentrations of estrogen, progesterone.
If a woman has a predominance of male hormones, pregnancy does not occur. In the absence of sufficient female sex hormones in women, the endometrial function is impaired, resulting in the deformation of the fallopian tubes and the fetal egg is unable to attach to them. The pregnancy does not occur at all, or it does occur, but after a few weeks it is aborted (miscarriage).
Endocrine infertility can also result from:
- disorders of the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland;
- constant stress;
- malnutrition;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- poor environment;
- polycystic ovaries;
- hyperprolactinemia (high concentrations in the body of the hormone prolactin);
- Chronic pathology of the internal genital organs;
- insufficient amount of progesterone, estrogen;
- depletion of the reproductive glands;
- Andrenogenital syndrome (production of large amounts of androgen hormone).
Symptoms
Endocrine infertility can be determined by:
- Amenorrhea (complete absence of menses);
- Acne on the body and face; abundance of menstrual bleeding;
- Concomitant diseases (allopecia, hirsutism);
- Abnormal discharge from the genital tract;
- Lumbar pain radiating to the abdomen;
- Obesity.
Most women have similar symptoms, so it is easy for a qualified specialist to determine the absence of ovulation, which is responsible for the pregnancy. If one or more of these symptoms are detected during diagnosis, we are talking about hormonal infertility.
To detect the disease on time, women are advised to monitor their own ovulatory function. Ovulation normally occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle. If it is systematically absent, you should consult a gynecologist.
How to find the disease?
- An alarming sign is a woman’s inability to become pregnant for 2 to 2.5 years with active sex life. Patients may also go to the gynecologist with complaints of:
- bloody discharge from the genitals;
- Severe pain during menstruation;
- Menstrual disorders;
- presence of blood clots.
When you go to the doctor with complaints of the above signs, the diagnosis of endocrine infertility is usually made.
Initially, you need a consultation with a specialist. A comprehensive gynecological exam will identify the cause that is making it difficult to conceive. The doctor performs a gynecological examination, during which patients are asked questions about the duration, regularity of menstruation, presence of pregnancies, frequency of sexual intercourse, methods of contraception, previous surgical interventions, abortions. Then the patient is directed to a laboratory to undergo tests for sex hormones and thyroid hormone levels.
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Additionally, maybe assigned: ultrasound pelvic organs, adrenal glands, thyroid.
Parallel to the urologist examines the partner. Man is sent to the analysis of the thyroid gland, sex hormones, spermogram.
Important! Permanent absence of ovulation in women – the first sign of endocrine infertility.
Treatment of endocrine infertility
Treatment consists of several stages. The first stage includes the elimination of the causes of the disease. During therapy, the hormonal background is corrected, blood glucose levels are reduced, excess weight is eliminated, and tumors are removed if present.
The importance of the second stage is the stimulation of sex hormones. As a rule, drugs are prescribed. If after two stages of treatment no pregnancy occurs, the woman is offered in vitro fertilization (IVF), during which fertilized embryos fertilized by the laboratory are transferred into the uterine cavity during surgical intervention. This method is not cheap, but the chances to get pregnant and give birth are about 50-55%.
Thus, control of health, periodic preventive examinations, timely diagnosis, and treatment, will help to avoid complications with conception and solve the problem of infertility.