Around one in six heterosexual couples in Ireland may experience infertility, according to HSE stats.
Earlier in 2021, top Irish author Anna McPartlin discussed her struggles- and explained the impact of her endometriosis on her ability to have kids while in a chat with Miriam O'Callaghan.
The average number of children born to all women aged 15 years or over has decreased marginally over the last decade, from 1.83 children per woman in 2011 to 1.82 in 2016. The rate has decreased slightly for nearly all the ages and is expected to do so again at the end of 2021.
There are a few subtle signs that could point towards having issues with fertility, with a number of leading medical journals publishing these hints on the regular.
Here is what you need to look out for if you seem to be struggling.
Women:
Pain during sex
Pain during sex, or dyspareunia, can be a sign of an underlying health problem that may influence a woman’s fertility.
Medical News Today explain: "Examples of such health issues include infections, endometriosis, and fibroids."
Heavy, long, dark or painful periods
"Women who experience very heavy, painful periods may be showing signs of endometriosis, a condition where tissues usually found in the womb are present elsewhere in the body." the journal continues.
Endometriosis is a risk factor for infertility.
Passing very dark, old blood at the beginning of a period can also be a sign of endometriosis. If a person is experiencing other symptoms, they may wish to speak to a doctor.
An irregular menstrual cycle
If you have an irregular cycle where there are large gaps between periods, you could be struggling with fertility as it disrupts how you ovulate.
The journal says: "Irregular ovulation can be due to many issues, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, being underweight, and thyroid issues."
Obesity
Women with obesity have a lower probability of conceiving and are at a higher risk for issues during pregnancy than those without weight issues.
Not getting pregnant
If you and your partner have been trying for a while and things aren't happening, you could be infertile.
Usually, doctors will be able to tell you if that is the case after a year of not being able to get pregnant.
Men:
Hormonal imbalances
Testosterone is a key hormone for male fertility, so problems with the testes that produce this hormone may lead to infertility.
Two hormones signal to the testes to make sperm and testosterone: luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.
So any problems with them could point to issues in the bedroom.
Erectile dysfunction
If there are issues with hormones, or other physical issues, getting an erection may be difficult.
And if this is a regular occurrence, you will have fertility problems.
Obesity
Similarly to women, obesity can increase the risk for other conditions that may impact a man’s fertility such as sperm quality and sexual dysfunction.
