Egg disorders, leading cause of infertility in women

The most common cause of infertility in females is their inability to produce eggs that are normal. Disorders that affect egg production account for more than 30 per cent of infertility in women.

Fortunately, about 70 per cent of these cases can be successfully treated using drugs that support ovulation.

The pharmaceutical industries continue to bring many of such drugs regularly. They include clomid, gonadotropins like menogon, follitrope, folligraft, gonal F and several other FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) containing hormone injections. Anovulation (inability to ovulate) can be due to four major factors categorised as follows:

Hormonal factors

These are the most common causes of anovulation. As explained in my doctoral dissertation, the ovulatory mechanism is controlled by complex balance of hormones and like an orchestra in symphony; any disruption in this process can hinder ovulation. There are three reasons for this type of ovulation:

Failure to produce mature eggs

In about 50 per cent of the cases of anovulation, the ovaries do not produce normal follicles in which the eggs can mature. Ovulation is rare if the eggs are immature and the chance of fertilisation becomes almost non-existent.

Even when we give a substantial amount of ovulatory support hormones like FSH, we may obtain as many as 12 eggs. For instance, only seven eggs will be fully mature while five may be immature eggs, which cannot be fertilised even using “brute force” with intra cytoplasmic sperm injection.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common disorder responsible for this problem, includes such symptoms as amenorrhoea, hirsutism, anovulation and infertility. This syndrome is characterised by a reduced production of FSH, and normal or increased levels of LH, estrogen and testosterone. The current hypothesis is that the suppression of FSH associated with this condition causes only partial development of ovarian follicles, and follicular cysts can be detected in an ultrasound scan.

The affected ovary often becomes surrounded with a smooth white capsule and is double its normal size. The increased level of oestrogen also raises the risk of breast cancer.

This condition has also been linked with inadequate carbohydrate metabolism, especially with resistance to insulin. Insulin is the hormone produced in the body to help us to manage our sugar intake. This has been successfully managed by dietary regulation, detoxification and the use of anti-diabetic drugs like metformin. The thyroid gland and the adrenal gland also play a significant role in the manifestations of some of the infertility problems at the level.

Malfunction of the hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is the portion of the brain responsible for sending signals to the pituitary gland, which, in turn, sends hormonal stimuli to the ovaries in the form of FSH and LH to initiate egg maturation. It can be regarded as the director of music for the symphony and orchestra of ovulation.

If the hypothalamus fails to trigger and control this process, immature eggs will be produced. This is the cause of ovarian failure in 20 per cent of cases.

We now know that some of the malfunctions of the hypothalamus can be due to poor diet as in malnutrition, bad eating habits, stress, and some environmental and occupational toxins.

Malfunction of the pituitary gland

The pituitary’s responsibility lies in producing and secreting FSH and LH. It is easily termed the musical conductor. The ovaries will be unable to ovulate properly if either too much or too little of these substances are produced. This can occur due to physical injury, a tumour or if there is a chemical imbalance in the pituitary.

Scarred ovaries

Physical damage to the ovaries may result in failed ovulation. For example, extensive, invasive, or multiple surgeries, for repeated ovarian cysts may cause the capsule of the ovary to become damaged or scarred, such that follicles cannot mature properly and ovulation does not occur. Infection may also have this impact.

Premature menopause

This is a rare and yet an unexplainable cause of anovulation. Some women cease menstruation and begin menopause before the normal age. It is hypothesised that their natural supply of eggs has been depleted or that the majority of cases occur in extremely athletic women with a long history of low body weight and extensive exercise.

In Nigeria, a great number of ladies had been sent into premature ovarian failure because they were attempting to terminate a pregnancy. A termination of pregnancy by dilatation and curettage by an unskilled person, which results in excess bleeding, may lead to ovarian shut down and scarring.

There is also a genetic possibility for this condition.

Follicle problems

Although currently unexplained, “unruptured follicle syndrome” occurs in women who produce a normal follicle, with an egg inside of it, every month, yet the follicle fails to rupture.

The egg, therefore, remains inside the ovary and proper ovulation does not occur.

The management of anovulation can be very easy and successful in the hand of a competent reproductive endocrinologist just as it can be elusive in the hand of quack.

PUNCH.