Infertility in African American Women
Many health problems are becoming more of a concern that
In general, infertility is defined as not having the ability to get pregnant or conceive after 12 months of unprotected sex (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Usually, women struggling with infertility have caused the issue by the lifestyle they are living or previously lived, or the cause was inevitable. Unfortunately, it is a more complex and prevalent issue, especially in African American women, than society realizes and is willing to acknowledge. Research reports that black women have had increased occurrences and longer periods of infertility (Fertility Weekly, 2010). Infertility can be caused by a multitude of uncontrollable factors that are generally tied to ovulation. In the female reproductive system, there are two fallopian tubes that extend bilaterally from the uterus, and beneath them are the ovaries, where ovulation occurs. …show more content…
Occasionally these cysts form in small clusters that contain immature eggs, and are often associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS is a hormone imbalance problem believed to involve increased insulin levels that cause the ovaries to produce excess androgens, which hinders ovulation (Eisenberg, 2014). There is no known specific cause of PCOS, but research shows that some women are more likely than others to develop other diseases or conditions as a result. Women with PCOS have a greater chance of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and diabetes (Eisenberg, 2010). In particular, African American women are just as likely to develop PCOS as white women, but have a higher likelihood to develop more severe symptoms, develop diabetes or experience weight gain or obesity (Ladson,
Many health problems are becoming more of a concern that
In general, infertility is defined as not having the ability to get pregnant or conceive after 12 months of unprotected sex (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Usually, women struggling with infertility have caused the issue by the lifestyle they are living or previously lived, or the cause was inevitable. Unfortunately, it is a more complex and prevalent issue, especially in African American women, than society realizes and is willing to acknowledge. Research reports that black women have had increased occurrences and longer periods of infertility (Fertility Weekly, 2010). Infertility can be caused by a multitude of uncontrollable factors that are generally tied to ovulation. In the female reproductive system, there are two fallopian tubes that extend bilaterally from the uterus, and beneath them are the ovaries, where ovulation occurs. …show more content…
Occasionally these cysts form in small clusters that contain immature eggs, and are often associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS is a hormone imbalance problem believed to involve increased insulin levels that cause the ovaries to produce excess androgens, which hinders ovulation (Eisenberg, 2014). There is no known specific cause of PCOS, but research shows that some women are more likely than others to develop other diseases or conditions as a result. Women with PCOS have a greater chance of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and diabetes (Eisenberg, 2010). In particular, African American women are just as likely to develop PCOS as white women, but have a higher likelihood to develop more severe symptoms, develop diabetes or experience weight gain or obesity (Ladson,