Infertility affects roughly one in six couples worldwide, and in a significant share of cases, a female-factor cause is identified or contributes alongside a male-factor one. Understanding the most common causes can help take some of the mystery — and often some of the self-blame — out of a difficult diagnosis.
Ovulatory disorders are among the most frequent causes, where the ovaries don’t release an egg regularly or at all. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the best-known example, but thyroid conditions and other hormonal imbalances can also disrupt ovulation. Tubal factors are another common cause: if the fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, often due to past infection, endometriosis, or surgery, sperm and egg simply can’t meet.
Uterine conditions — fibroids, polyps, scar tissue, or structural differences in the uterus — can prevent an embryo implanting or a pregnancy continuing, even when ovulation and fertilisation happen normally. Endometriosis, where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, is a further common and often underdiagnosed cause, affecting both egg quality and the uterine environment. And simple age-related decline in egg quantity and quality remains one of the most significant factors, particularly from the mid-to-late thirties onward.
Diagnosis typically starts with a detailed history and bloodwork to check hormone levels, followed by imaging such as an ultrasound to assess the ovaries and uterus, and sometimes a specialist procedure to check the fallopian tubes. None of this is quick or always conclusive — a meaningful number of cases are labelled ‘unexplained’ even after thorough testing.
It’s worth saying plainly: infertility is a medical condition, not a personal failing. Most causes are simply a matter of biology, and many are increasingly common as more people start families later in life or navigate conditions like endometriosis that were historically under-recognised.
When a diagnosis makes carrying a pregnancy difficult or impossible — whether due to uterine factors, repeated implantation failure, or other conditions — gestational surrogacy becomes a genuine, well-established path to parenthood. The team at Ceres Fertility North Cyprus, working closely with Clavis IVF clinic, can talk you through whether surrogacy might be right for your specific diagnosis.
Ready to talk through your own journey? Contact Ceres Fertility North Cyprus for a confidential consultation. justinecerescyprus@gmail.com
