14 Factors that can negatively affect ovulation and your fertility

Age

It is a well-known fact that the older you are the more difficult it is to conceive. The average age
of the menopause and the end of a woman’s reproductive life is around 52 years of age. However
even a decade or so before she may experience fertility problems, as her cycles become less regular
and the quality of her eggs decline. Tragically, some women experience a premature menopause
as early as their 30’s or 40’s. There is no definitive age when fertility starts to decline and every
woman is different, however it’s important for women of any age who are struggling to conceive
to get advice sooner rather than later.

Hereditary factors

Women will generally experience the menopause around the same time that their mother did. So,
ask your mother how old she was when she went through the menopause. This will give you a
good idea of when it may happen for you so you can make decisions on when to start a family or
to seek help if time is running out.

Smoking

Everyone knows that you shouldn’t smoke when you are pregnant, but few women realise the
impact that smoking can have on your fertility. The shocking facts are that smoking ages your
ovaries by 10 years and smoking can adversely affect the ease in which the egg travels down the
fallopian tubes to meet the sperm.

Alcohol

In an ideal world it would be preferable not to drink alcohol at all when trying to conceive.
However, it is advisable for women not to drink more than 4 units of alcohol a week (a couple of
glasses of wine) and less if you can. Alcohol is incredibly damaging to ovarian health and research
has shown that women who drink more than the recommend amount are more likely to need
fertility treatments. Binge drinking is an absolute ‘no no’ and is thought that this may increase
your risks of developing PCOS, for example.

Toxins

Exposure to pollutants, pesticides and industrial compounds found in the work place can have a
significant affect on your ability to conceive. However there is concern that even everyday
chemicals found in the home may also have a direct effect on your fertility. PCB’s found in plastics
such as plastic cups and plates and cling film and phthalates, parabens and phenoxyethanol found
in both beauty and cleaning products are the ones to avoid. Do a toxin cleanse and throw out any
product made with these chemicals and switch to natural beauty and cleaning products.

Obesity

If you are very overweight it is very likely that your cycle will be or become irregular. The delicate
balance of your hormones is affected when you are overweight and this in turn decreases ovarian
function, meaning that you are likely to experience irregular ovulation. However the good news is
that by making some lifestyle changes and effective weight loss, a woman will begin to ovulate
more frequently and so restore her fertility.

Low body weight

As well as being overweight, a very low body weight can affect your ability to conceive. In this
situation ovulation can be completely turned off. A healthy body max index (BMI) is required to
optimise your ability to conceive and should be between 18-24.

Excessive exercise

Whilst maintaining a good body weight and enjoying exercising is important to help you conceive,
exercising too much can have a negative impact on ovulation. This is common in female athletes
but research has shown that normal weight women who exercised vigorously for more than 5 hours
per week found it more difficult to conceive.

Hormonal Contraception

Some methods of birth control may delay the return of your fertility for a short while. For example
after stopping the combined contraceptive pill or the injection it can take a few months for
ovulation to return and for your fertility to get back to normal.

Thyroid disease

A recent research study supported the belief that thyroid disorders can contribute to ovulation
problems as well as increasing the risk of miscarriage. Whilst women with known thyroid
problems will be managed by their doctor and taking the appropriate medication, even women
with mild and undiagnosed hypothyroidism may find problems conceiving. Ask your doctor for a
thyroid check to make sure that this is not the case for you.

Caffeine

Over the last few years there has been a great deal of interest in to the affects caffeine may have
on fertility. One study even revealed that drinking 5 or more cups of coffee a day reduce the
chances of successful IVF by half. Take a look at your caffeine intake (and this includes tea,
carbonated drinks and chocolate) and reduce down to 1 or 2 cups per day, substituting for more
healthy options.

Medical conditions

Certain medical conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids and autoimmune disorders such
as lupus can make it more difficult to conceive. The key is getting a diagnosis and the right
treatment. If you are trying to conceive for a while and are concerned that you may have a medical
condition that is contributing to your problems, see your doctor to discuss this early.
Sexual Health

Certain sexually transmitted infections can impact on your fertility and it’s a good idea to get your
sexual health checked. If necessarily infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea can be treated
before they affect your ability to conceive.

Stress

In many ways, a little bit of stress is good for us. It motivates us to make changes and move
forward. However excessive and prolonged stress is counter-productive and can have a very
negative effect on fertility. Our bodies are actually conditioned to prevent conception occurring at
the time of chronic stress, allowing our bodily reserves to concentrate on more immediate survival.
Recent research shows that stress increases the levels of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and
cortisol. This in turn inhibits the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone, which is responsible
for the release of the female sex hormones. Subsequently this may suppress ovulation.

https://www.ovusense.com/ca/blog/2016/03/30/14-factors-that-can-negatively-affect-ovulation-
and-your-fertility/

While there’s a long list of things that need to happen, at the right time, in the right place, in order
for a woman to get pregnant, ovulation is definitely one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.
Ovulation is the typically once-monthly process by which an egg, beginning in the follicle, matures
and releases into the fallopian tubes, where it can be fertilized. Without ovulation, there’s no egg—
and therefore no pregnancy.
Age.

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: age is the primary factor affecting fertility,
and can affect both ovulation and the viability of a woman’s eggs. A woman is born with all the
eggs she’ll ever have—at birth, that’s about a million. As she gets older, she has fewer eggs in her
ovarian reserve (egg count); plus, a higher percentage of those eggs become genetically abnormal,
due to natural degradation of the DNA inside the eggs (egg quality).

Age can affect ovulation as a woman’s egg count gets particularly low, in the period known as
“perimenopause.” During that time, which typically predates the “actual” menopause by several
years,she may experience irregular ovulation, the telltale signs of which are irregular menstrual
periods or wonky results when using ovulation predictor kits. Around age 51, on average, women
enter menopause, considered the official end of ovulation.

However, it’s important to remember that egg count is only one factor in fertility; egg quality,
which declines gradually as a woman ages, is much more important, and can impact a woman’s
ability to get pregnant long before age can affect ovulation.

A proactive fertility assessment and ovarian reserve testing, like we offer here at Extend Fertility,
can help women understand if they’re at risk for premature diminished ovarian reserve (DOR),
premature menopause, or other conditions that can affect ovulation.

Hormonal birth control.

Hormonal birth control, such as pills, patches, rings, and injections, are formulated so that they
can affect ovulation in a way that prevents the user from getting pregnant. Ovulation begins in the
hypothalamus, a region of the brain that releases a hormone—gonadotropin-releasing hormone—
that kicks off the ovulatory cycle. That hormone then triggers the pituitary gland, also in the brain,
to produce other hormones (luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone), which
stimulate your ovaries to produce still other hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that prompt
ovulation.

Hormonal birth control uses synthetic versions of progesterone and/or estrogen to interrupt this
process and prevent ovulation. For women who decide they’re ready to get pregnant, the good
news is that hormonal birth control can affect ovulation for only as long as it’s in your bloodstream;
for most types of birth control, that’s only about two to three months, maximum, after you stop
taking it. (The exception to this is the birth control “Depo” shot, which is intended to be a longer-
acting form of birth control and can affect ovulation for a longer period.) Hormonal birth control
doesn’t have a long-term effect on fertility.

Polycystic ovary syndrome.

While the cause of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unknown, it’s characterized by the
presence of two or three clinical signs: infrequent, irregular, or prolonged menstrual cycles;
elevated levels of male hormones (androgens), that sometimes cause excess facial and body hair
or acne; and polycystic ovaries, meaning the ovaries have an overabundance of immature egg
follicles (cysts) but fail to regularly release eggs (ovulate). These cysts often appear arranged
around the periphery of the ovary, in what’s known as a “pearl necklace” formation.

We also know that carbohydrate metabolism, or the body’s ability to break down and process the
carbohydrates you eat, play a role in PCOS. Insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas, allows
cells to use sugar, the body’s primary energy supply. If cells become resistant to the action of
insulin, blood sugar levels can rise, and the body might produce more insulin to compensate.
Studies suggest that excess insulin increases androgen production, which can affect ovulation and
cause the symptoms of PCOS.

The good news is that, because PCOS is connected to insulin levels, it can respond to simple, non-
medical interventions, such as improved diet, exercise, and weight loss. Hormonal birth control
can also help manage the symptoms of PCOS for women who aren’t looking to get pregnant.
Because PCOS can affect ovulation, it’s a common cause of female infertility; in addition to
lifestyle changes, there are several medication options that can help women with PCOS get
pregnant by medically inducing ovulation.

Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus, known as the “endometrium,”
begins to grow on other organs inside a woman’s body, like the ovaries, the outside of the uterus,
or Fallopian tubes. These tissues grow, thicken, breakdown, and bleed just like the endometrium
inside the uterus, except because they’re outside, this cycle can cause irritation or inflammation in
surrounding organs or even produce scar tissue, known as “adhesions,” that can cause organs to
attach to each other. Endometriosis is a common cause of fertility issues, and can be painful or
even debilitating.

Endometriosis can cause fertility issues by producing a physical blockage to the reproductive
system. The disease can also damage the egg supply in the ovaries, and the resulting
inflammation—as well as diminished ovarian reserve—can affect ovulation, as well. As
endometriosis expert Dr. Iris Orbuch explains, the condition both “decreases a woman’s ovarian
reserve [and] decreases fertility by either an anatomical distortion or via inflammation.”

Additionally, while surgical treatment of endometriosis, known as laparoscopy, offers long-term

pain relief, studies show that it can reduce ovarian reserve (and therefore can affect ovulation) by
inadvertently removing healthy ovarian tissue or cutting off blood supply to the ovary. It’s also
possible that endometriosis may reduce egg quality, possibly by creating an inflammatory
environment in the reproductive system; this is a matter of debate in the scientific literature.
Concerns regarding the effect of endometriosis on egg quality and quantity have prompted many
experts to recommend that women with endometriosis freeze their eggs.

Body weight.
Being too overweight or too underweight can affect ovulation. According to an article in the
journal Reproduction exploring the well-supported relationship between obesity and infertility,
excess body weight can affect ovulation by throwing off the delicate balance of hormones required
for a healthy menstrual cycle. How? One theory is that an excess of adipose (fat) tissue, an
important site of steroid production, has been shown to increase the levels of certain steroids in
overweight women. This steroid increase can reduce the ability of important reproductive
hormones, such as estrogen, to get where they need to go, which can affect ovulation. Obesity may
also be related to insulin resistance, which, as in PCOS, can affect reproductive hormone levels.

On the other hand, though, being significantly underweight, having a very low body fat percentage,
or vigorously exercising over 60 minutes per day can also affect ovulation. Ovulation and
menstruation require a lot of energy from a woman’s body. When someone is very underweight,
their body attempts to conserve energy by putting a pause on certain functions, like ovulation.
(This is why women with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa typically lose their menstrual
periods.) It’s also believed that—again, because body fat affects steroid levels, and steroid levels
affect the flow of reproductive hormones like estrogen—too little adipose tissue, just like too
much, can affect ovulation by preventing hormones from getting from the brain to the ovaries.

Endocrine disorders.

If we’ve learned anything by now in this post, it’s this: the human body is a complex,
interconnected network that requires a pretty specific balance in order to function properly. That’s
exemplified perfectly by the fact that disorders of far-flung parts of endocrine system (like the
hypothalamus, thyroid, or pituitary gland) can affect ovulation, which happens in the ovaries.

The fact is, as organs which produce hormones, the ovaries are part of the endocrine system, and
are in constant communication with its other parts. So if another organ in the system is working
too hard—or not hard enough—it can affect ovulation and other functions of the ovaries.
One example is the thyroid, which produces thyroid hormones that control the metabolism of every
cell in our bodies. Both an overactive (hyper) or underactive (hypo) thyroid can affect ovulation
and are associated with reduced fertility and irregular menstruation. And, in some cases, thyroid
disorder and ovulatory disorder may both be related to a problem in the hypothalamus or pituitary
glands, which control them both!

Sleep disruption.

While research into the connection between sleep and fertility is still a work in progress, disrupted
sleep cycles has been correlated with menstrual irregularities, increased instances of PCOS,
dysmenorrhea, and increased time to, and reduced rates for, conception—among other negative
reproductive health outcomes—in several studies. Primarily a concern for people who work late
nights or irregular shifts (or who experience sleep disorders like insomnia), it’s thought that sleep
disruption can affect ovulation because sleep may be a factor in the body’s regulation of:

 TSH, explained above

 Luteinizing hormone (LH), which triggers ovulation
 Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which helps ovarian follicles mature
 Progesterone
 Or other important hormones that can affect ovulation.

Since research is still limited, it may not be that sleep disruption can affect ovulation—it may be
that both sleep and ovulation are being affected by some other imbalance. What is clear is that
healthy sleep is pretty crucial for health, in general—so making regular shut-eye a priority
definitely can’t hurt.

https://extendfertility.com/blog/what-can-affect-ovulation

INTERFERENCE IN OVULATION

Female Infertility Disorders

Ovulation disorders for infertility occur in about 25 percent of infertile couples. This condition can
be caused by a lack of regulation of reproductive hormones by the hypothalamus or pituitary gland,
or problems with the ovary itself. You are said to have ovulation disorders if you rarely ovulate or
not at all.

Symptoms

Abnormal FSH and LH secretion. These two hormones are responsible for stimulating ovulation
every month - follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) - produced by
the pituitary gland in certain patterns during the menstrual cycle. Excessive physical or emotional
stress, very high or very low weight, or recent weight gain (for example, 10 percent of body weight)
- can interfere with this pattern and affect ovulation. The main sign of this problem is irregular
menstruation or no occurrence. In rare cases, certain diseases of the pituitary gland, which are
usually associated with other hormonal deficiencies or with excess prolactin production, may be
the cause of ovulation disorders.

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In PCOS, complex changes occur in the hypothalamus,
pituitary and ovary, resulting in excess production of male hormones (androgens), which affect
ovulation. PCOS can also be associated with insulin resistance and obesity.

• Luteal phase defects. Luteal phase defects occur when the ovaries do not produce enough
progesterone after ovulation. Progesterone is very important in preparing the uterine lining for
fertilized eggs to be occupied.

• Premature ovarian failure. This disorder is usually caused by an autoimmune response, in which
the body mistakenly attacks ovarian tissue. This condition results in the loss of eggs in the ovary,
as well as a decrease in estrogen production.

In fact, there are various factors from a woman's body that can inhibit the process of pregnancy.
Female infertility can be caused by several things:

1. Ovulation disorders

Ovulation disorders or the release of eggs regularly, is the most common condition that causes
women to not get pregnant. Some conditions make women no longer release eggs, some cause
eggs to only be released in a longer time than they should.

This ovulation disorder can occur due to several conditions, such as:
  Thyroid disorders, including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can inhibit ovulation.
 Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This condition makes the ovaries have difficulty
producing eggs.
 Premature ovarian failure, which is when a woman's ovaries stop producing before age 40.

2. Damage to the fallopian tube or fallopian tubes

When the fallopian tubes or fallopian tubes are damaged or blocked, it will make it difficult for
the sperm to fertilize the egg or block the movement of fertilized eggs into the uterus. The damage
can be triggered by several factors.

The first factor is pelvic inflammatory disease, which is inflammation of the uterus and fallopian
tubes by sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Secondly, have had major surgery or pelvic surgery, including surgery for an ectopic pregnancy,
that is, the fertilized egg is implanted and begins to develop in the ovary duct, not the uterus.

And the third factor is due to tuberculosis in the pelvis. Is one of the main causes of female
infertility.

3. Postoperative scarring

Physical damage that occurs in the ovary can result in ovulation failure. For example, invasive and
recurrent surgery for ovarian cysts can cause damage or appearance of scar tissue, so ovulation
does not occur. In addition, infection can also cause female infertility.

4. Cervical mucus disorders

When a woman is ovulating, naturally the cervical mucus becomes thinner and thinner to make it
easier for sperm to move and approach the egg. Abnormalities in the mucus can complicate this
process and prevent pregnancy.
5. Submucosal fibroid

Submucosal fibroids are benign and non-cancerous tumors that grow in or around the uterus.
Submucosal fibroids develop in the muscle layer of the uterine wall and can develop into the
uterine cavity. This condition can reduce fertility even though it is not known what triggered it.
The possibility of a fibroid prevents the embryo from being embedded in the uterus.

6. Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when tissues that usually grow in the uterus, are then implanted and grow in
other parts of the body. Additional tissue growth and surgical removal can cause scarring. Scar
tissue can then block the ovary canal tube and inhibit the fertilization of egg cells by sperm. This
condition can also have an indirect impact on fertility, but endometriosis may affect the lining of
the uterus and interfere with the cultivation of fertilized eggs.

7. Side effects of drugs

Some medicines can affect your fertility. The following are several types of these drugs:

1. Nonstreoid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin and ibuprofen drugs. The
use of high-dose NSAIDs or long periods of time can complicate the process of pregnancy.
2. Neuroleptics or antipsychotic drugs used to treat the condition These drugs sometimes
make users not get regular menstruation or even sterility.
3. Antidiuretic medicine for spironolactone is a type of medicine that is used to overcome
excess. It takes about two months after stopping the consumption of this drug to restore
fertility to a normal level.
4. Chemotherapy as a treatment for cancer, sometimes causes interference with the ovaries so
that they are not able to function as they should. The damage may also be permanent.
5. Illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine can affect fertility. This drug will complicate
the ovulation cycle, which is the release of eggs every month
Source: http://www.dokterdigital.com/id/penyakit/267_gangguan-ovulasi.html
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