How Much Do You Know About Your Fertility

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Fertility can be a complex and emotive topic, particularly if you’ve found it difficult to conceive. There’s also a lot of misinformation out there which doesn’t help matters. Separating fact from opinion can be hard, and even then you’ll probably want to seek professional support if you’re experiencing infertility. Knowledge is power though, so forewarning yourself with the facts can help you gain some control over the situation and plan your next steps. To help you, this fertility clinic in London outlines some of the key facts about fertility you might want to take note of. 

Age has the biggest impact on fertility

Females are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and many of these are lost during menstruation. Only the healthiest egg follicles are left behind to become mature eggs. Therefore, as the body ages, there are fewer good quality eggs, lowering the chances of conceiving. Fertility peaks between the ages of 18 and 30, after which it begins to steadily decline. Your chances of getting pregnant are still quite high though in your early 30s as you will likely still have a lot of good quality eggs. However, there is quite a steep drop in fertility after the mid-30s and 1 in 3 couples in their 30s experience some kind of fertility issue. The chances of conceiving after the age of 40 are low and pregnancy at this age comes with greater risk; it is often the age at which couples seek fertility intervention such as IVF. 

Other lifestyle factors affecting fertility

Along with age, lifestyle factors such as weight, smoking, eating unhealthily and taking certain medications can detrimentally impact on fertility levels. For both men and women, a high or low BMI can affect fertility. This is because it can cause hormonal imbalances, increase pregnancy risks and the amount of drugs needed for fertility treatment, while it can also impact on male sperm count. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is advised when trying to conceive as the body needs the right amount and combination of nutrients for healthy eggs and sperm. Smoking can also negatively affect the reproductive process due to toxins which can reduce sperm quality and egg production. Similarly, drinking too much alcohol can prevent the body from being in the optimum condition for conceiving. Although you should try and maintain a regular routine of moderate exercise, intense regimes can actually have an adverse effect on both male and female fertility, so try not to take things too far if you’re trying to get pregnant. You should also consult your doctor about any medication you’re taking which might affect conception, as some everyday medications are not advised when trying to conceive. 

Assisted conception

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a while, but it’s not happening, it might be time to consider assisted conception treatments. The type of treatment you opt for will depend on what’s causing the infertility, although sometimes couples experience unexplained infertility where there’s no obvious cause. Assisted conception treatments include IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation), IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), using donated sperm, using donated eggs or embryos, or using a surrogate to carry a baby for you. You will usually have to take a combination of drugs during the process and undertake one or more procedures. As with natural conception, the younger you are the more likely assisted conception is to work, but of course a lot of women or couples do not seek help until they are older. Fertility treatment can be an expensive and invasive option, so it warrants careful consideration by all parties involved. 

Knowing the facts about fertility, and what support options are out there, will help make your fertility journey less lonely while also giving you more control over it.