Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease characterised by the development of tissue identical to that of the uterine mucosa (endometrium) in organs where it should not normally be present. Endometriosis generally occurs in the peritoneum, a layer of cells covering the abdominal organs such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder or in the ovaries, where it forms cysts known as endometriomas. Endometriosis triggers an inflammatory reaction and promotes the formation of fibrous layers (adherences), generally culminating in pelvic pain or infertility.
Unexplained infertility
In approximately 10 to 20% of cases, there is no apparent cause for infertility or else only minor anomalies have been identified, the role of which is uncertain. There may well be a specific cause for infertility, but this cannot be detected using current diagnostic methods. Infertility may be due to an immunological problem (incompatibility between the gametes), defective quality of the oocytes or an unknown masculine factor.
Age-related infertility
In today’s society, women consider starting a family much later than they did years ago. Many of them want to wait until they have completed their studies or are settled in their careers before planning a pregnancy. In industrialised countries, almost 20% of babies are currently estimated to be born to women of 35 or older.
This desire to start a family in later life is partly responsible for the increase in infertility-related problems since the biological clock has, unfortunately, not kept pace with changes in our lifestyle. Female fertility, just like male fertility, gradually decreases with age. This decline is already evident around 30 years of age, accelerating rapidly from the age of 35. For instance, a 30 year-old woman has approximately a 20% chance of becoming pregnant each month. By the age of 40, this percentage has fallen to a mere 5%. An increase in the risk of miscarriage is also observed in conjunction with this reduction in fertility.
These phenomena are the result of an age-related decrease in the number and quality of the oocytes.
