• Fallopian tube damage or blockage. Fallopian tube damage usually results from inflammation of the fallopian tube (salpingitis). Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease, is the most frequent cause. Tubal inflammation may go unnoticed or cause pain and fever. Tubal damage is the major risk factor of a pregnancy in which the fertilized egg is unable to make its way through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus (ectopic pregnancy). One episode of tubal infection may cause fertility difficulties. The risk of ectopic pregnancy increases with each occurrence of tubal infection.
• Endometriosis. Endometriosis occurs when the uterine tissue implants and grows outside of the uterus — often affecting the function of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes. These implants respond to the hormonal cycle and grow, shed and bleed in sync with the lining of the uterus each month, which can lead to scarring and inflammation. Pelvic pain and infertility are common in women with endometriosis.
• Ovulation disorders. Some cases of female infertility are caused by ovulation disorders. Disruption in the part of the brain that regulates ovulation can cause low levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Even slight irregularities in the hormone system can affect ovulation. Specific causes of hypothalamic-pituitary disorders include injury, tumors, excessive exercise and starvation.
• Elevated prolactin (hyperprolactinemia). The hormone prolactin stimulates breast milk production. High levels in women who aren't pregnant or nursing may affect ovulation. An elevation in prolactin levels may also indicate the presence of a pituitary tumor. In addition, some drugs can elevate levels of prolactin. Milk flow not related to pregnancy or nursing can be a sign of high prolactin.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In PCOS, your body produces too much androgen hormone, which affects ovulation. PCOS is associated with insulin resistance and obesity.
• Early menopause (premature ovarian failure). Early menopause is the absence of menstruation and the early depletion of ovarian follicles before age 35. Although the cause is often unknown, certain conditions are associated with early menopause, including immune system diseases, radiation or chemotherapy treatment, and smoking.
• Benign uterine fibroids. Fibroids are benign tumors in the wall of the uterus and are common in women in their 30s. Occasionally they may cause infertility by blocking the fallopian tubes.
• Pelvic adhesions. Pelvic adhesions are bands of scar tissue that bind organs after pelvic infection, appendicitis, or abdominal or pelvic surgery. This scar tissue formation may impair fertility.

Other causes. A number of other causes can lead to infertility in women:

• Medications. Temporary infertility may occur with the use of certain medications. In most cases, fertility is restored when the medication is stopped.
• Thyroid problems. Disorders of the thyroid gland, either too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism), can interrupt the menstrual cycle and cause infertility.
• Cancer and its treatment. Certain cancers — particularly female reproductive cancers — often severely impair female fertility. Both radiation and chemotherapy may affect a woman's ability to reproduce. Chemotherapy may impair reproductive function and fertility in men and women.
• Other medical conditions. Medical conditions associated with delayed puberty or amenorrhea, such as Cushing's disease, sickle cell disease, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease and diabetes, can affect a woman's fertility.
• Caffeine intake. Excessive caffeine consumption reduces fertility in the female.

If you and your partner are unable to become pregnant within a reasonable time and would like to do so, seek help. The woman's gynecologist, the man's urologist or your family doctor may be able to determine whether there's a problem that requires a specialist or clinic that treats infertility problems.

Some infertile couples have more than one cause of their infertility. Your doctor will usually begin a comprehensive infertility examination of both you and your partner.

Before undergoing infertility testing, be aware that a certain amount of commitment is required. Your doctor or clinic will need to determine what your sexual habits are and may make recommendations about how you may need to change those habits. The tests and periods of trial and error may extend over several months.

Evaluation is expensive and in some cases involves uncomfortable procedures, and the expenses may not be reimbursed by many medical plans. Finally, there's no guarantee, even after all testing and counseling, that conception will occur.

For a woman to be fertile, the ovaries must release healthy eggs regularly, and her reproductive tract must allow the eggs and sperm to pass into her fallopian tubes to become fertilized by a sperm. Her reproductive organs must be healthy and functional. After your doctor asks questions regarding your health history, menstrual cycle and sexual habits, you'll undergo a general physical examination. This includes a regular gynecological examination. Specific fertility tests may include:

• Ovulation testing. A blood test is sometimes performed to measure hormone levels to determine whether you are ovulating or not.
• Hysterosalpingography. This test evaluates the condition of your uterus and fallopian tubes. Fluid is injected into your uterus, and an X-ray is taken to determine whether the fluid progresses out of the uterus and into your fallopian tubes. Blockage or problems often can be located and may be corrected with surgery.
• Laparoscopy. Performed under general anesthesia, this procedure involves inserting a thin viewing device into your abdomen and pelvis to examine your fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus. A small incision (8 to 10 millimeters) is made beneath your navel, and a needle is inserted into your abdominal cavity. A small amount of gas (usually carbon dioxide) is inserted into the abdomen to create space for entry of the laparoscope — an illuminated, fiber-optic telescope. The most common problems identified by laparoscopy are endometriosis and scarring. Your doctor can also detect blockages or irregularities of the fallopian tubes and uterus. Laparoscopy generally is done on an outpatient basis.
• Hormone testing. Hormone tests may be done to check levels of ovulatory hormones as well as thyroid and pituitary hormones.
• Ovarian reserve testing. Testing may be done to determine the potential effectiveness of the eggs after ovulation. This approach often begins with hormone testing early in a woman's menstrual cycle.
• Genetic testing. Genetic testing may be done to determine whether there's a genetic defect causing infertility.
• Pelvic ultrasound. Pelvic ultrasound may be done to look for uterine or fallopian tube disease.

Not everyone needs to undergo all, or even many, of these tests before the cause of infertility is found. Which tests are used and their sequence depend on discussion and agreement between you and your doctor.

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Unexplained infertility

In some infertile couples, no specific cause is found (unexplained infertility). Couples receiving the diagnosis of unexplained infertility are more likely to seek multiple health care providers and be influenced by the experiences of family and friends or literature that promises new hope. Although infertility is unexplained, the pregnancy rate for these couples with infertility treatment is among the highest.

One natural fertility option that more and more women and couples are turning to in their journey towards getting pregnant is homeopathy. Praised for its holistic approach to the treatment of a variety of illnesses and disease, homeopathy, and more specifically, homeopathy remedies, are also yielding beneficial results in the treatment of both female infertility and male infertility problems. But what exactly is homeopathy and how can homeopathy be used by women and couples seeking to improve their chances of getting pregnant?

My first experience with treating infertility homeopathically took place several years ago .I saw a lady who complained of being unable to conceive after trying for 2 years. She had had no proper workup. I spoke with her for about 10 minutes and the remedy became clear to me. and I decided to offer it. She really did not know what she was getting, Anyway, she took the remedy home and started taking it. I did not see her for a year and completely forgot about the case. I presumed she went to see the gynecologist and was undergoing the usual procedures. One year later I saw her again. At first I did not realize it was the same person. I have very poor memory for faces and names and when I first saw her now I thought I was seeing her for the first time. She complained of baby blues. She'd just given birth to a healthy baby 2 months ago and was now struggling with her emotions.

Another case was a lady that came to be treated for depression and headaches. She had been married for four years and never got pregnant. She used no birth control. She thought she was infertile and was just fine with the idea. You can imagine her surprise when, as the depression got to be less severe and the headaches let up some, she also got pregnant. Since homeopathy is meant to treat the whole person, it affects the reproductive organs just as surely as all the rest. If there is no irreversible pathology there it will create conditions favorable to reproduction, since this is what those organs are meant to do. This fact is well known among homeopaths and stories of making babies in infertile women abound. I've had several such cases myself. I tell you, its great fun to make babies, even if your involvement in the process is indirect.

Homeopathy offers simple solutions to fertility issues for women. Constitutional treatment is the first option for women with hormonal imbalances such as heavy periods, pre menstrual tension, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility. Menopausal problems can also be helped with constitutional treatment.

Where ovulation has been suppressed by prolonged use of the contraceptive Pill, the Homeopathic Fertility Programme is very effective in enabling women to become fertile and go on to conceive.

Rupali
Rupali is 24 and suffers from PMT, her periods have been heavy, painful and irregular for almost ten years. She was on the Pill for six months but it made her PMT worse so she stopped. However, her periods have been very irregular since coming off the Pill. At the first consultation, Rupali told me that she didn’t feel in control of her life, her hormones ruled, her mood swings meant that she was either tearful or a tyrant. She was getting lots of premenstrual headaches and dreaded the week before a period. Taking everything into account about her health, lifestyle and personality, I gave her a homeopathic remedy to take 10 days after her period, as she’s just started her periods, this would be in a few days. Her next period arrived 28 after the last one, this was the first time for her periods to be regular. The flow was light and painless, her mood before was calm. The usual headaches, mood swings had gone and her energy levels were much improved. The next period was the same, light and uneventful. The third period arrived at 32 days, she had been very busy completing a project at work so attributed it to stress. I gave her a second dose of the homeopathic remedy, her fourth period arrived at 28 days, she will come back for more homeopathic treatment if she needs to. Although Rupali isn’t planning to become pregnant, for many women have regular periods bodes well for future fertility. A history of irregular, painful periods often goes hand in hand with unexplained infertility.

Puja
PUJA, 32 after two years trying for a baby, Puja still wasn’t pregnant. Puja had been on the Pill for 6 years before they started to try to conceive. Her periods were regular and don’t cause her any discomfort. Sanjeev sperm count is average. Their doctors class them as having unexplained infertility. Puja comes for homeopathic treatment before the consider IVF. We begin with a constitutional homeopathic remedy, after the first month, Puja sees her general health improving, she was getting frequent viruses, they have stopped, her cycle is the same 28 days, light and painless, ovulation has not taken place as there has been no temperature rise recorded . The Homeopathic Fertility Programme is the best approach to this to re-establish ovulation when the contraceptive Pill has suppressed ovulation for sometime. After one cycle ovulation occurs, at cycle three Puja becomes pregnant.

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As a homeopath I offer a highly successful and thoroughly researched fertility plan. This multi-faceted fertility plan will:

• support you emotionally by releasing emotional blocks to fertility
• balance your hormones, regulate menstrual cycles, stimulate ovulation, improve the quality of vaginal mucous, improve sperm count and motility
• treat any underlying pathology including endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• clear the side effects of the contraceptive pill
• clear inherited tendencies or miasms
• balance the levels of essential minerals most involved in reproduction
• minimise the adverse effects of any identified geopathic stress.

Emotional blocks to fertility
Homeopathy looks at your health holistically recognising that all aspects of your existence are interconnected. Some of your mental and emotional states of mind can affect your body in a detrimental way and will often manifest in the form of an energetic block leading to an illness. Such emotional blocks and negative states of mind can also prevent conception. Maybe there are high expectations from your family? Perhaps a miscarriage or a bad experience during a previous birth or pregnancy has led you to fear subsequent pregnancy? You might also be leading a stressful life style, which has affected you physically and emotionally leading to, for example, irregular or painful periods. Homeopathy is invaluable in addressing such blocks to fertility at both the physical and emotional levels.

Balance your hormones
Homeopathic treatment addresses the causes of symptoms and works on bringing the body back to balance, thus having a profound effect on your entire endocrine system. There are many remedies which will help to regulate menstrual cycles, bring back ovulation or improve sperm count and motility. Appropriate remedies will be selected for you and your partner as part of this fertility treatment plan.

Treat the underlying pathology
If PCOS, endometriosis, uterine fibroids or polyps are preventing you from conceiving, they will also be treated effectively and permanently, as part of this fertility plan.

Clear the side effects of the contraceptive pill
Homeopathy has proved to be particularly effective in addressing the side effects of the contraceptive pill including, among others: weight gain, lack of ovulation, irregular menses, candida, benign breast lumps or apathy. This fertility plan will address any of the side effects, which may prevent you from conceiving.

Clear inherited tendencies As one of the deepest reaching therapies, homeopathy can treat inherited tendencies and patterns affecting your chances of conception. Those may include, for example, sub-fertility or a tendency to miscarry. As part of this fertility plan I will work with you at a deep, miasmatic level to effectively remove any inherited blocks to fertility.