Endocrine infertility

Endocrine infertility

What is endocrine infertility?
In women, the concept of "endocrine infertility" is a general term that includes various disorders. Regardless of the cause, they are based on ovarian dysfunction. This leads to the violation of ovulation or its irregularity. Endocrine infertility accounts for 30-40% of the causes of infertility in women.

Causes of endocrine infertility
Regardless of the cause of endocrine infertility, it is based on a sharp violation of the function of the ovaries. It is characterized by continuous absence of ovulation or its irregularity. Anovulation occurs during the dysfunction of the central nervous system and the immune system, during the dysfunction of the endocrine glands and target organs. Anovulation leading to endocrine infertility can be caused by:

– Hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction

It is usually found during head injuries and chest injuries, tumors of the hypothalamo-pituitary zone. At this time, hyperprolactinemia (increased prolactin) is observed. An increase in the secretion of prolactin slows down the cyclic release of sex hormones from the pituitary gland, which leads to the cessation of the functions of the ovaries, the delay of menstruation, the development of anovulation and endocrine infertility.

– Ovarian and adrenal hyperandrogenism

Having a small amount of androgens (male sex hormones) in the female body is important for sexual development and the proper functioning of the ovaries. The increased secretion of androgens can be either by the ovaries or the adrenal gland, and sometimes by both. Often, hyperandrogenism accompanies polycystic ovary syndrome and leads to endocrine infertility, hirsutism (hair loss), bleeding or absence of menstruation, and bilateral damage to the ovaries. Adrenal hyperandrogenism usually results from hyperplasia (thickening) of the adrenal cortex. Sometimes the ovaries can also be involved in the process as a secondary.

- Dysfunction of the thyroid gland

- During the course of hypothyroidism and toxic urine, it is often accompanied by anovulation, secondary hyperprolactinemia (increased prolactin), endocrine infertility, failure to carry the pregnancy to term, and fetal anomalies.

– Estrogen and progesterone deficiency

Deficiency of female sex hormones leads to incomplete preparation of the endometrium, changes in the fallopian tubes, prevents the attachment of the fetal egg to the uterine cavity. This leads to pregnancy termination and endocrine infertility.

- Severe somatic diseases (cirrhosis, hepatitis, which cause damage to the liver tissue, tuberculosis, autoimmune and systemic diseases, various localized malignant tumors);

– Obesity or vice versa weight deficit

Adipose tissue performs the function of an endocrine organ in the body, affects the reproductive system and metabolic processes in all organs and tissues. Excess accumulation of fat leads to hormonal imbalance and the development of endocrine infertility. Reducing fat intake and rapid weight loss prevent the ovaries from functioning normally.

– Resistant ovaries syndrome (Savage syndrome)

At the heart of the syndrome are disorders in the pituitary-ovarian chain, a violation of the sensitivity of the receptor apparatus of the ovaries to gonadotropin hormones that stimulate ovulation, which leads to secondary amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), endocrine infertility. Damage to the ovaries can be caused by illness with measles and flu viruses, avitaminosis, pathology of previous pregnancies, avitaminosis, hunger, stressful situations.

– Premature menopause (descended ovary syndrome)

It occurs in 35-38-year-old women, causes character changes and causes endocrine infertility.

- Diseases caused by mutations of sex chromosomes

In the case of diseases related to sex chromosomal abnormalities, there is a lack of female sex hormones, sexual infantilism, primary amenorrhea and endocrine infertility.

Symptoms of endocrine infertility
Its main symptoms are the absence of pregnancy and shifts in the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle may be delayed (from several weeks to months) or absent. Sometimes bleeding between periods can be observed.

In some women with endocrine infertility, the menstrual cycle is often anovulatory, but according to the duration, it can resemble a normal cycle (21-36 days). In this case, we are not talking about menstruation, but menstrual-like bleeding. In some patients, milk flow from the breast (due to increased prolactin) may be observed. In addition, there may be tension in the mammary glands, milk from the breast (due to an increase in prolactin). Deterioration of the premenstrual condition is a characteristic sign. During hyperandrogenism, hirsutism (hair loss), acne (rashes), hair loss or vice versa