Vaginal discharge and infection:
In many cases, women ignore abnormal or heavy vaginal discharge, and are completely
unaware that the appearance of even small amount of discharge, whether regular or
sporadic, is an alarming development. It could lead to back ache, pain in legs,
weakness and fatigue. Ayurvedic physicians call this condition Som roag (Som means
elixir, Rog means disease). In such cases, the women loses shukra and other vital
dhatus important for “life”(i.e. which are equivalent to an elixir), in the form
of vaginal discharge. This causes the uterus to become weak there by making it difficult
for the woman to conceive.
Cervix:
Position and patency of cervix and the cervical canal plays an important role in
conception. The narrow cervical opening causes hindrance in sexual intercourse and
thus becomes a cause for infertility. Anteverted or retroverted uterus prevents
sperms to reach the uterus.
Anovulatory Cycle:
Anovulation (a menstrual cycle without the release of an egg from ovary) is yet
another cause of infertility. Again, because of hormonal imbalances, many women
have anovulatory cycles, even though the menstrual cycles themselves may be regular.
The absence of an ovum obviously leads to infertility.
Blocked fallopian tubes:
More and more causes of infertility today lie in inappropriate food and life style
habits because they tend to increase Vata dosha. Vata imbalance in turn leads to
obstruction of the fallopian tubes. Here, in spite of ovulation, there is no possibility
of conception, since the sperm cannot reach the ovum to fertilize it. Several issues
like tuberculosis, chronic blood loss, deficiency in rakta dhatu, and even frequent
miscarriage are some of the other reasons for Vata imbalance. In some cases, subtle
or dormant vaginal infections may travel upwards and effect the fallopian tubes
and ovaries.
Polycystic ovary Syndrome:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition marked by many small cysts in your
ovaries, irregular periods and high levels of certain hormones. According to Ayurveda,
PCOS can be caused due to an imbalance of any of the three doshas (Ayurvedic humors),
the prime ones being Pitta and Kapha. Aggravated Pitta causes contamination of the
dhatus (tissues) like rasa (nutrient plasma) and rakta (blood). This further causes
accumulation of ama (toxins) in the weaker channels of the body.
In the case of PCOS patients, these toxins get accumulated in the manovahi strotas
(channels of the mind), leading to an imbalance of hormones secreted by the pituitary
gland. This condition results in imbalance of female hormones and increase in Kapha,
which causes formation of ovarian cysts (collection of fluids within an ovary),
anovulatory periods (no ovulation) and other symptoms. PCOS contributes to problems
with fertility in some women.
Uterine Fibroid:
Further causes of infertility are localized growths in the uterus, known as arbuda
in Ayurveda. This term refers to a superfluous growth anywhere in the body due to
the imbalance of a dosha. Such growths in the uterus are called fibroids. They are
mainly caused by vata imbalance , which could then influence either pitta or kapha
doshas. If the fibroid is large, it will obstruct conception and implantation; if
small it could be the cause of frequent miscarriage. It can lead to pre-term or
premature delivery, and if the pregnancy goes to full term, it is possible that
the child will be born handicapped or diseased.