What is fertility?
by Austin | Apr 28, 2020 |
Fertility is about the ability to get pregnant. More than 8 out of 10 couples where the woman is aged under 40 will get pregnant within one year if they have regular unprotected sex. More than 9 out of 10 couples will get pregnant within 2 years.
Regular, unprotected sex means having sex every 2 to 3 days without using contraception.
You don’t need to time having sex only around ovulation. Having vaginal sexual intercourse every 2 to 3 days will give you the best chance of getting pregnant.
Remember it’s important for you and your partner to try and keep sex enjoyable by concentrating on each other and your relationship, rather than worrying about conceiving. This will help you limit stress.
Contraception and getting pregnant
Most women use contraception as a safe way to avoid getting pregnant when they are not ready for children. When you stop contraception, it is often because you would like to try for a baby. You can read more about stopping contraception here.
If you have been taking contraception that uses hormones (such as the Pill, the patch, injections) for a long time, you may not know your cycle very well (for example how long it is). This is because the bleed that happens when you move to a new packet of the Pill is not a true period. A true period happens when you ovulate (release an egg from your ovaries) and the Pill prevents ovulation. Read more about how pregnancy works.
If you’ve stopped taking contraceptives that were based on hormones your periods may be a bit irregular (come at different times of the month) for the first few months while your body gets used to the change in hormone levels. Read more about stopping contraception
The Pill does not cause infertility but it may cover up conditions that are linked to infertility because lack of periods is a sign of ovulation problems, endometriosis or PCOS. If you do not have periods anyway, these problems may be missed until you come off contraception.
Lifestyle and fertility
Your fertility is affected by your lifestyle. These are the top lifestyle tips for improving your fertility:
Don’t smoke. Smoking ages your ovaries and your eggs and is linked to lower fertility.
Cut down on alcohol. Heavy drinking is linked to lower fertility.
Keep caffeine intake below 200 mg a day.
Stay active. Being moderately active has been shown to help with fertility
Stay away from illicit drugs.
Be a healthy weight.
When to get help with fertility
Infertility is only usually found out when a couple haven’t managed to get pregnant. Make an appointment with your GP if you haven’t conceived after a year.
You should see your GP sooner if:
you are over 36 (fertility deceases with age)
you have a known fertility issue, such as endometriosis (link) or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
your partner has a known fertility issue, such as low sperm count
you are concerned you or your partner may have a medical issue that may be affecting your ability to get pregnant
you have irregular or no periods.
Your Doctor will ask you about your lifestyle, general health and medical history. They may ask you questions about:
any previous pregnancies or children you may have
how long you have been trying to conceive
how often you have sex
how long it has been since you stopped using contraception
if you take any medication
your lifestyle and habits.
They may also advise you about the things you can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant and how your partner can improve their fertility.
Causes for infertility or reduced fertility
Ovulation problems
Poor egg quality
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Fallopian tube problems
Unexplained infertility
Premature ovarian insufficiency
What is unexplained infertility?
Unexplained fertility is when no reason has been found for a person’s fertility problems. In this case you should not be offered any fertility drugs taken by mouth as this does not improve the chances of conceiving naturally. Unexplained fertility is more likely if you are over 36 than if you are under.
If you have been trying to conceive naturally for more than two years (including the year before your fertility tests) you may be offered IVF.
All about fertility tests
If you and your partner have been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant, you will both be offered fertility tests.
Tests for men
Men should be offered a semen test to measure the quantity and quality of their sperm.
Tests for women
Fertility tests for women may include:
blood tests to check your hormone levels
tests (including blood tests) to see how well your ovaries may respond to fertility drugs
an examination to see whether your fallopian tubes are blocked
Fertility treatment
This will depend on what’s causing the problems and what’s available in your local area.
There are three main types of fertility treatment:
drugs to improve ovulation
surgery if there are blockages or growths in the reproductive system.https://pharmahub.com.ng/what-is-fertility/
