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Other Conditions That May Affect Conception and Pregnancy
Author: Angela Heidt
Like any major change in your life, it can pay to do some research before you start trying to get pregnant. While many people may not have difficulty conceiving, it can still be a good idea to research conditions that may affect your conception or pregnancy, so you can take any precautions to ensure a fast conception, as well as a happy and healthy pregnancy.
Weight Conditions
Women that are clinically overweight may have difficult pregnancies, as they are at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes and venous thrombosis (blood clots). Having excess fat tissue also leads to a higher output of estrogen, which can prevent women from ovulating. Additionally, heavy women tend to have larger babies, which can mean a C-section delivery and issues with the health of the baby.
On the other hand, most women who are ready to get pregnant do not want to wait a year or more to get into a healthy weight range prior to conceiving. But this doesn’t mean that small changes, such as increasing exercise and the intake of health foods, won’t make a difference.
Dysmenorrhea
Known to many as painful periods, dysmenorrhea is almost always linked to a woman’s ovulation cycle. While the underlying cause varies, if the dysmenorrhea is associated with endometriosis, adenomyosis, or another cause it may be an indication of possible conception problems. A women suffering from dysmenorrhea may want to investigate further to ensure that the underlying cause will not affect fertility.
Diabetes
While diabetes usually doesn’t affect fertility, it is vital to have it under control prior to conceiving to ensure a healthy pregnancy. A woman planning to get pregnant should have their blood sugar under control for a minimum of six months prior to conceiving. Otherwise, the pregnancy may result in birth defects, poor lung development, and cleft palate in the infant.
Congenital Uterine Anomalies
There are several uterine issues that can affect conception, the most common being septate uterus. This condition occurs when the uterus has two partial or separate cavities. Unfortunately, the only way to treat septate uterus is to have surgery to correct the problem. On the bright side, about 80 percent of women who go through treatment have successful pregnancies.
Endometriosis
This condition involves the growth of cells outside of the uterus, instead of inside the uterus where they belong. These cells become attached to areas outside the uterus, such as in the Fallopian tubes, and on the ovaries. Over time they can create scar tissues or large deposits which have to be surgically removed. Studies indicate that endometriosis is responsible for infertility in 20-50% of cases. Treatment for endometriosis includes removal of nodules and gonadotropin hormones.
High Stress Levels
Believe it or not, how you feel can affect your chances of conceiving and the health of your pregnancy. High stress levels can result in missed or late periods, which in turn will lower the chances of conception. Stress during pregnancy can lead to other issues and may affect the birth weight of your baby. Potential mothers in high-stress situations may want to consider making a change or waiting for a less stressful period to conceive.
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