What is the Cervical Factor?
The cervix is situated where the vagina joins the uterus at its narrowest point. Cervical mucus, produced by tiny glands around the cervix, carries sperm. The sperm must travel through the cervical mucus from the vagina to the uterus after being ejaculated into the vagina. The hormone estrogen increases mucus formation around the time of ovulation and becomes thinner to help the sperm move. The cervical mucus can become thicker and have bad consistency due to products like Clomid that interfere with estrogen production.
Why does the Cervical Factor happen?
The cervical factor, also known as male infertility, happens when sperms cannot swim through the cervical mucus or when anti-sperm antibodies are found in the vagina. Antibodies are produced as an immune response, i.e. when the body tries to protect itself from harmful pathogens like bacteria and viruses. The body's immune system initially recognizes the "invading pathogens" and starts to generate antibodies to destroy them if they are exposed again in the future. The body develops anti-sperm antibodies when it believes sperm to be invading microorganisms. Consequently, an immunological response occurs to eliminate the sperm.
What is the treatment procedure for the Cervical Factor?
Infertility specialists use IUI as their first line of treatment for cervical factor infertility. It is crucial that IUI cycles are managed by skilled fertility specialists or properly trained OB/GYN to avoid the possibility of multiple births. The IUI cycle may occasionally be converted to an IVF cycle if more eggs grow that can be safely ovulated. The right number of embryos are transplanted into the uterus via IVF. The extra embryos can be donated or frozen and saved for future use.
The IUI process avoids the cervical mucus by inserting the concentrated and properly cleansed sperm directly into the uterus. After three to six cycles of IUI, IVF may be used as a backup plan if the patient is still unable to conceive. Among many other things, this depends on the cause(s) of infertility.
What is Uterine Factor (fibroids)?
Non-cancerous uterine growths, known as uterine factors (fibroids), are common in women during their childbearing years. They are also known as leiomyomas or myomas, which do not enhance the risk of uterine cancer or hardly ever turn into cancer. Fibroids can be small enough to be invisible to the naked eye or large enough to stretch and expand the uterus.
What are the symptoms of Uterine Factors (fibroids)?
The common symptoms of uterine fibroids include:
- Longer menstrual periods
- Unusual backache
- Frequent urination
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Pelvic pressure
- Constipation
- Leg pains
What are the causes of Uterine Factors (fibroids)?
Although physicians cannot point out the exact cause of uterine fibroids, however, research points out the following factors:
- Genetic alterations: It has been found that a number of fibroids have gene mutations that are different from those in regular uterine muscle cells.
- Hormones: In order to prepare for pregnancy, the two hormones progesterone and estrogen promote the formation of the uterine lining throughout each menstrual cycle.
It has been found that these two hormones promote the development of fibroids too.
Fibroids contain more estrogen and progesterone receptors than normal uterine muscle cells do.
- Growth factors: Fibroid growth may also be affected by components that help the body maintain tissues, like insulin-like growth factors.
- Extracellular matrix (ECM): ECM is the component that binds cells together in the body. ECM is found to be increased in fibroids which makes them fibrous.
Who are at risk of developing Uterine Factors (fibroids)?
A few factors influencing fibroid development in women may include:
- Race: Despite the fact that any woman of reproductive age has the potential to have fibroids, black women are more likely to have them than other racial groups.
Additionally, they are also found to have larger or more fibroids as well as more severe symptoms that manifest earlier in life.
- Heredity: A woman has a higher chance of getting fibroids if their mother or sister has fibroids.
What are the prevention measures to avoid Uterine Factors (fibroids)?
There is little scientific data on preventing fibroids, even though scientists are still investigating their causes. Although it may not be possible to prevent uterine fibroids, only a tiny proportion of these tumours needs treatment.
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A woman may be able to lower their chance of developing fibroids by adopting healthy lifestyle habits, like consuming fruits and vegetables and maintaining a healthy weight.
Very rarely, a man creates anti-sperm antibodies to his sperms, usually as a result of any earlier testicular trauma or vasectomy.
Uterine fibroids are known to grow in different parts of a woman's uterus. Depending on their growth site, they are of three types: • Intramural • Subserosal • Submucosal
The majority of women with fibroids are able to get pregnant.
• Ultrasound • Laparoscopy • Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) • CT scan
