Female Infertility Causes Every Woman Should Know in Detail

Editor: Kirandeep Kaur on Feb 17,2026

 

If you are struggling with infertility, it may feel like the emotional weight weighs very heavily due to worry over what could be causing your issues to become pregnant in the first place. At the same time, knowing the different types or causes of infertility in women may empower you with a greater understanding of how to address your infertility challenges, including finding solutions to your infertility by obtaining a diagnosis and through health professionals who are knowledgeable about women's issues. 

When female infertility is not the only cause that prevents you from getting pregnant, then there are many women who experience the same problems; therefore, the good news is that most causes of female infertility are treatable through modern medical intervention (based on research). In fact, according to reputable sources like the CDC and the NIH, approximately 1 out of every five married women in America is struggling with infertility. 

Therefore, it might seem like most women have some sort of infertility issue. The great thing is that most of these causes can be easily treated with the evidence-based modern medicine we discussed above.

What Are the Most Common Female Infertility Causes?

Gaining an understanding of the causes of female infertility starts with understanding how the female reproductive system works. For a woman to get pregnant, she must have at least one egg released through the process of ovulation, have healthy fallopian tubes to connect her ovaries with her uterus, have balanced amounts of hormones, and have a uterine environment that is comfortable enough for the fertilized egg to implant successfully. When any one or more of these elements are disrupted, the woman experiences difficulties becoming pregnant or fertility problems. 

1. Ovulation Disorders

Ovulatory dysfunction is among the leading causes of female infertility. Disorders, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hormonal disorders, and thyroid dysfunction, can prevent the development of an egg and/or the ovulation process. Disruption in the normal ovulation process often causes women with ovulation dysfunction to have irregular menstrual cycles or miss their period altogether, which is one of the classic signs of infertility in women. Without regular cycles, a woman cannot conceive without assistance, making ovulation disorders one of the most important causes of female infertility. 

2. Fallopian Tube Damage or Blockage

A blocked or damaged fallopian tube prevents the sperm from reaching the egg. This type of damage is commonly caused by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), prior infections in the woman's genitals, endometriosis, or surgery performed in the abdominal cavity. Damage of this kind, or this overall type of damage, can create great difficulty for the woman trying to conceive and generally requires one of several types of female infertility surgical procedures or assisted reproduction techniques to assist them in becoming pregnant.

3. Uterine or Cervical Abnormalities

Post-implantation success can be hindered by having fibroids, polyps or any other abnormality of the uterine lining; cervical mucus can also obstruct sperm from moving through the cervix.

Structural problems are considered common reasons for female infertility. Female infertility can manifest as subtle symptoms like irregular bleeding or pelvic pain, which may be due to structural problems.

4. Age-Related Decrease in Fertility

Natural aging is a common contributing factor to infertility in women; women are born with a limited number of eggs, and the quantity and quality of the eggs decrease as they get older, especially beyond 35 years of age.

If you’ve been asking yourself, "What's wrong with me? Why can't I get pregnant?" , We know that age might be one of the key factors you should consider discussing with a fertility doctor.

Also Read": PCOD vs PCOS: Real Differences That Actually Matter

How Do You Recognize Infertility Symptoms in Women?

The majority of women think that there will be obvious signs that they are infertile. However, the majority of women do not exhibit Infertility symptoms. Most women's Infertility symptoms are subtle in appearance, or may not show any signs of the woman being infertile at all.

  • Irregular Menstrual Cycles: Menstrual cycles that last less than 21 days or longer than 35 days can signal that you are not ovulating and have an ovulation problem. Your lack of ovulation is one of several female factors contributing to your Infertility.
  • Severe Menstrual Pain: Severe/ Debilitating Cramping during Menstruation can be a sign of Endometriosis (or Endometrial Disease), which is an additional cause of Infertility.
  • Hormonal Imbalances:Symptoms of hormonal imbalance include those that are typically associated with Infertility, are: Increased Hair Growth or Thinning Hair (due to Hormonal Imbalances, such as PCOS), Unintentional Weight Gain, and/or skin Conditions such as Acne.
  • No Symptoms at All: It is common for women to not have any Infertility symptoms at all. Most couples who are experiencing difficulties with pregnancy usually don't discover that there are factors contributing to their Infertility until they have been having unprotected sexual relations (i.e., attempting to become pregnant) for 12 months (6 months if over 35 years old) with no successful outcome (or pregnancy).

If you continue to ask yourself the question, “Why am I not getting pregnant?” you should consider having your Infertility checked by a medical professional.

What Female Infertility Treatment Options Are Available?

The good news is that many female infertility causes can be treated with today's medical technology. The best treatment for female infertility depends on the underlying cause.

1. Lifestyle Changes

Example: Proper weight, stress management, and nutrition will help to enhance reproductive health and ultimately resolve mild common infertility problems naturally.

2. Ovulation-Stimulating Drugs

Example: Women with ovulatory disorders may benefit from using medications such as clomiphene citrate or letrozole as a female infertility treatment. Medication stimulates the ovaries to release eggs regularly.

Each of these two treatments provides a specific treatment method that targets multiple types of infertility in females due to hormone imbalance.

Related Resource: Best Foods to Boost Fertility and Reproductive Health

3. Surgical Intervention

If the reason for an infertility problem is due to blockages in the fallopian tubes or abnormalities in the uterus, surgery may help restore your ability to bear children through minimally invasive procedures.

4. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

ART encompasses a variety of procedures that can help women who experience difficulties conceiving. For example, IUI and IVF are both forms of ART. IVF has the advantage of overcoming many of the reasons couples are infertile because it allows for the fertilization of the egg outside of the body.

For those couples asking themselves, “Why won't I have a baby?”, ART can be a great source of hope.

Why Early Diagnosis Matters

Early evaluation is critical when addressing female infertility causes. Fertility testing may include:

  • Hormonal testing, 
  • Ultrasound imaging, 
  • Tracking ovulation, 
  • Assessing the fallopian tubes.

The quicker the causes of infertility in women are diagnosed, the quicker treatment can be started. If an individual delays obtaining a diagnosis, the odds of successful treatment are decreased, especially in women over 35.

Can Female Infertility Be Prevented?

Generally, there are many reasons for infertility in women, and while not all causes can be prevented, managing your health can make a big difference in many cases.

  • Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
  • Having regular gynecological exams
  • Promptly treating any infections
  • Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol
  • Monitoring your menstrual cycle patterns

When women are informed about their bodies, they are less likely to have undetected infertility symptoms and will be able to intervene sooner; when this happens, they may experience fewer of the common signs of infertility.

When Should You See a Specialist?

If you have been unable to conceive within the following timeframes, you should schedule an appointment with a Reproductive Endocrinologist (fertility specialist):

  • if you are under 35 years old and haven't had a pregnancy after 12 months
  • if you are over 35 years old and haven't had a pregnancy after 6 months
  • if you have irregular menstrual cycles or experience substantial pelvic pain
  • if you have had one or more miscarriages

Continuing to pose the question "Why can't I get pregnant?" may indicate there could be an unidentified cause of female infertility. An experienced professional can identify and diagnose underlying female infertility, as well as provide effective treatment plans for female infertility.

 In-Deth Guide: Understand Fertility Challenges and Solutions of Parenthood

Conclusion

When women understand why they are having difficulty getting pregnant, they start to feel empowered rather than helpless. To find out the cause of a woman’s infertility, you need to look at all the ways that can create infertility: Problems with ovulation, problems with the anatomy of the reproductive organs, problems that are age-related, or the result of too little or too much estrogen or progesterone.

Once you have identified some common symptoms of infertility in women, you can look into advanced female infertility treatment options that help women solve their common infertility issues to achieve a successful pregnancy.

When you ask yourself, “Why am I not able to become pregnant?” Just remember that you do have treatment options, answers do exist, and there is still a great amount of hope. Knowledge is always the best place to start.

FAQs

What are the most common reasons a woman cannot conceive?

This may vary, however, the most common reasons include ovulation issues, uterine abnormalities, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis and aging of eggs. A woman experiencing fertility issues should see a doctor as soon as possible so the doctor can identify the specific cause of the problem and create a plan that will give the woman the best chance of becoming pregnant.

What typically are the signs that a woman may be infertile?

Signs of infertility can include menstrual irregularities, excessive menstrual cramps (pain), hormonal imbalances or no signs at all. If after 12 months a woman has not been successful in becoming pregnant she should seek professional help.

What are the best methods available for treating female infertility?

Treatments for female infertility depend upon the cause; they usually include: changing lifestyle, taking medication to stimulate ovulation, surgery for uterine or fallopian tube abnormalities, and assisted reproductive technology (i.e., IVF) and involve working with a doctor to develop a treatment plan that will provide the best chance of success for each woman. In addition, research shows that developing a personalized treatment plan greatly improves the chances of becoming pregnant through the different treatment options available to couples experiencing female infertility.


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