Deciding to expand your family can be an incredibly joyous moment, and bringing a life into the world is both wondrous and rewarding.
But navigating fertility and all its ups and downs can be overwhelming.
There are many different factors that can impact you and your partner’s fertility, so how can you know you’re on the right track?
In this article, we’ll outline the basics of fertility so that you and your partner can prepare your journey with confidence. Whether that means adjusting your diet and habits or seeking professional advice from a fertility specialist, such as the team from Create Fertility, this article will detail what you need to know.
Understanding your fertility
Male and female fertility both play an important role in conception. Understanding how your body works and when the best times are to try is crucial to ensuring you have the best chance of conceiving.
Female fertility
Female fertility is dependent on several factors, from the health of your reproductive system to the length of your menstrual cycle, your daily eating and exercise habits and more. This is why, when you are attempting to conceive, it’s important to have an in-depth understanding of how your body functions.
Menstruation is what many think of when assessing their fertility. Periods occur because an egg is released, during ovulation, and was not fertilized earlier in the month. Because the egg was not fertilized, the uterine lining is shed, which comes out as menstrual blood.
Track your periods carefully to identify when you are ovulating, as this is when you are most fertile and able to conceive. To do this, you will have to determine how many days there are between your periods. From day one to day one.
Then you will need to subtract 14 days from that number. On average, this will be the start of your ovulation period. Once you’ve identified this, it is recommended that you have sexual intercourse every two days.
Male fertility
Sperm are the male reproductive cells. Once inside the female body, sperm will ‘swim’ up the uterus and fallopian tubes in order to fertilize an egg. Once an egg is fertilized, an embryo develops, which is when conception takes place.
The health of the sperm can severely impact the chances of conception. Low sperm counts, smaller sperm and poor sperm motility, or movement, can all affect your chances. While in some cases these issues can be genetic, many occur due to diet and lifestyle habits.
Tips and habits
For both male and female fertility, your lifestyle can have a large impact. Excessive drinking, smoking and drugs can all reduce your chances of conception.
Likewise, being underweight or overweight can also affect your chances. If you’re ready to try for a baby, consider your current exercise regimen and diet. Eating healthier and being more active can improve your overall health and may improve your chances.
Fertility treatments
While your lifestyle is important, many people may face health conditions or genetic issues that impact their chances. In these cases, fertility treatments are often sought to help increase the odds.
IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, is perhaps the most well-known fertility treatment. It involves hormone therapy to stimulate egg production, followed by collecting eggs and sperm and bringing them together in a lab to attempt fertilisation.
Once a viable embryo is formed, it is transferred into the uterus in the hope of achieving pregnancy, though success isn’t guaranteed.
While IVF is widely known, there are many other fertility treatment options available, and speaking with a healthcare professional can help determine what’s best for your situation.
Seeking fertility support
Fertility specialists offer insight, support and guidance to help couples facing fertility issues. They understand the impact fertility difficulties can have on a couple, and offer tailored, compassionate care to help you on your fertility journey. But how do you know when you should see them?
If you are already aware of a medical condition that may impact your fertility, then it is recommended that you seek professional support. Likewise, if you’ve been trying for 6 to 12 months with no results, speaking with a fertility specialist may help you identify the potential cause and offer advice for moving forward.
Regardless of your age or weight, a general fertility check is a great way to ensure you and your partner are healthy and ready to proceed.
Your fertility journey
Understanding the basics of fertility may help you on your pregnancy journey. Fertility is a complex issue that can affect both you and your partner, physically and mentally. Ensuring you have the right information and support is the best way to help manage your concerns and ensure a smoother journey.
If you are still unsure about different factors or health concerns surrounding fertility, it is recommended that you seek a specialist for tailored advice.
