Infertility

Causes

• Overview
• Causes
• Diagnosis

Treatment
Infertility can be caused by many different things. For 1 in 4 couples, a cause cannot be identified.

Infertility in women
Infertility is commonly caused by problems with ovulation (the monthly release of an egg from the ovaries).

Some problems stop an egg being released at all, while others prevent an egg being released during some cycles but not others.

Ovulation problems can be a result of: 

polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
thyroid problems – both an overactive thyroid gland and an underactive thyroid gland can prevent ovulation
premature ovarian failure – where the ovaries stop working before the age of 40
Scarring from surgery
Pelvic surgery can damage and scar the fallopian tubes, which link the ovaries to the womb.

Cervical surgery can also sometimes cause scarring or shorten the neck of the womb (the cervix).

Cervical mucus problems 
When you're ovulating, mucus in your cervix becomes thinner so sperm can swim through it more easily. If there's a problem with the mucus, it can make it harder to conceive.

Fibroids
Non-cancerous growths called fibroids in or around the womb can affect fertility. In some cases, they may prevent a fertilised egg attaching itself in the womb, or they may block a fallopian tube.

Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where small pieces of the womb lining (the endometrium) start growing in other places, such as the ovaries.

This can damage the ovaries or fallopian tubes and cause fertility problems.

Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the upper female genital tract, which includes the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

It's often caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI). PID can damage and scar the fallopian tubes, making it virtually impossible for an egg to travel down into the womb.

Sterilisation
Some women choose to be sterilised if they do not want to have any more children.

Sterilisation involves blocking the fallopian tubes to make it impossible for an egg to travel to the womb.

It's rarely reversible – if you do have a sterilisation reversed, you will not necessarily be able to have a child.