Can low estrogen cause infertility?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on January 11, 2025
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If a woman's blood test reveals low estrogen levels, it may affect normal conception. Firstly, with low estrogen levels throughout the menstrual cycle, there can't be a peak change, which may lead to abnormal ovulation or anovulation. Additionally, if estrogen levels are low, the endometrium cannot proliferate effectively, leading to insufficient endometrial thickness and making it difficult for the fertilized egg to implant. Some women may conceive despite these issues; however, due to insufficient hormone levels, they may experience abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, threatened miscarriage, or even arrested fetal development.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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How long does it take to be considered infertile when trying to conceive?

Pregnancy for women requires a certain amount of time to be successful, and if one cannot become pregnant in the short term, it does not necessarily mean infertility. It could be due to irregular ovulation or incorrect timing of sexual activity. In clinical practice, it is generally considered that if one has been trying to conceive normally without deliberate contraception and still cannot become pregnant after a year, then infertility should be diagnosed. For cases where conception hasn't occurred after a year of trying, examinations should be carried out for both partners to determine if there are any pathological factors. First, the male partner should have chromosome and sperm analysis; Second, the female partner should be checked for chromosomal infections, immune factors, rheumatology factors, etc. After clearly identifying the reasons, interventions should be made as much as possible to guide normal conception.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What are the symptoms of infertility?

There are many causes of infertility, so depending on different reasons, the clinical manifestations also vary. For instance, some women suffer from infertility due to abnormal ovulation, which could manifest as abnormalities in the menstrual cycle such as prolonged absence of menstruation, like in polycystic ovary syndrome, or irregular vaginal bleeding. Some women have uterine factors that cause infertility, such as common post-multiple intrauterine operations leading to intrauterine adhesions, where a woman might experience reduced menstrual flow or even amenorrhea, accompanied by painful menstruation. Additionally, infertility in some women might be due to cervical factors, possibly presenting with thick vaginal discharge, contact bleeding, or blood-tinged discharge. Partially, some women might have ovarian endometriomas, which can cause severe painful menstruation and increased menstrual volume, among other symptoms.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Can fallopian tube cysts cause infertility?

If it has been confirmed that there is a fallopian tube cyst, further examination is still needed to determine whether the fallopian tube cyst affects normal conception. If the fallopian tube cyst causes narrowing or blockage of the fallopian tube lumen, it may decrease the likelihood of normal conception or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. If the cyst on the fallopian tube does not affect the spaciousness of the entire lumen or cause any blockage of the fallopian tube, it generally will not have any impact on normal conception.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What are the tests for infertility?

For infertility examinations, men typically undergo a routine semen analysis to check for any abnormalities. If there are abnormalities in the semen analysis, further testing might be needed for conditions such as varicocele or inflammation of the testicles and epididymis. For women, the examinations generally focus on the fallopian tubes to ensure they are patent, usually assessed through hysterosalpingography or a tubal patency test. Additionally, infertility tests include an ultrasound to monitor the follicles and check for any organic diseases in the uterus and ovaries. For women with menstrual irregularities, it's crucial to perform an endocrine test, specifically the six-item sex hormone check, as normal hormonal levels are necessary for regular menstruation and ovulation, and for the normal development of a fertilized egg. Other investigations for infertility might cover immune-related infertility among others, which require specific hospital tests. Moreover, if there has been a previous incidence of miscarriage, tests might include chromosomal analysis, tests for hemolysis, mycoplasma testing, and a set of tests for genetic counseling, all of which are part of the infertility examination process.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Why does endometriosis cause infertility?

Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility. The reasons endometriosis leads to infertility mainly include the following aspects: First, if endometriosis occurs above the ovaries, this condition is referred to as ovarian chocolate cysts. This disease can cause ovarian ovulation disorders. Second, endometriosis easily leads to pelvic adhesions, which can affect the function of the fallopian tubes, making it difficult for the fimbrial end of the tubes to capture eggs. Endometriosis is very common among women with infertility; therefore, a thorough examination is essential when screening for causes of infertility. If endometriosis is present, surgical or medical treatment should be chosen to improve the symptoms of endometriosis as much as possible and alleviate the causes of infertility.