Often people don’t take the time to research fertility before they embark on trying to conceive, until they realize there’s a problem; but knowing the facts about fertility can actually help you prepare for your conception journey, both mentally and physically, whether you’re trying to conceive for the first time or have been struggling for a while. It can also help you seek the right IVF fertility treatments for your unique situation. Here are some key facts to understand which might help you on your journey.
Age has the biggest impact on fertility levels
Given that we can’t control the ageing process, this might be a bit disconcerting, but knowing when you’re at peak fertility, or if you’ve passed it, can help you decide on the right IVF treatment for you. For women, fertility generally peaks in the mid-20s before beginning to decline in the late-20s. In the mid-late-30s the chances of conceiving drop dramatically. This means that any efforts to get pregnant in the late-30s or older need to be very focused, and that’s where fertility treatment can help – it will be tailored to your age and your body. Men’s fertility levels do also decline as they age, although not as rapidly as women’s.
Weight also affects conception chances
A significant proportion of fertility issues are down to weight issues, both being underweight and overweight. Being overweight can affect hormone levels and prevent ovulation, while not having enough body fat can also affect menstruation and ovulation. If you’re underweight or overweight and finding it difficult to conceive, getting into a healthy weight range can increase your chances of falling pregnant as your body will be in the optimal condition for ovulation and conception.
Knowing your cycle well will help
Knowing when you are ovulating is key to conceiving, particularly if you are in your mid-30s or older. You need to make sure you’re timing intercourse correctly to optimize the chance of you falling pregnant. Bear in mind that women are generally fertile for five days leading up to ovulation and for one day after. Given the fact that sperm can sperm can live in the female reproductive tract for up to three days after intercourse, having sex on the two days prior to ovulation offers the greatest chance of conceiving.
Fertility is complex, but if you’re struggling to conceive there is lots of help available and you should consider consulting a specialist who can help you decide on the course of IVF treatment that’s right for you.
