“Top Tips To Conceiving” written by Dr Sonya Jessup published in Great Health Guide (April 2017). If you have been unsuccessful in conceiving naturally, it may be time to consider some other options. Dr Jessup reminds us difficulty in conceiving can be quite common and there may be other options for you to consider.
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Great Health: Top Tips To Conceiving
written by Dr Sonya Jessup
Couples wanting to conceive may have a New Year’s Resolution to fall pregnant in 2017. However, for many when conceiving naturally just isn’t happening, it can be frustrating, stressful and upsetting. This year could be the perfect time to reconsider options, if naturally conceiving has been unsuccessful so far.
Many factors lead to infertility and there is no one cause as to why some couples have difficulties conceiving. Couples generally are leaving having a baby until a lot later than they used to. This has an impact on overall fertility, as fertility declines with age. Today a large proportion of the young population, don’t even feel ready to have or care for a child until well into their 30’s or even 40’s. After years of taking contraception, there is an expectation that falling pregnant will happen quickly which often is not the case.
There are many good reasons for delaying starting a family but the downside is that with increasing age there is a decreasing quality of the eggs. Women over 40 have a 1 in 20 chance of falling pregnant naturally and this declines even further with increasing age. IVF can improve the chances of conceiving considerably.
THERE IS NO ONE CAUSE AS TO WHY SOME COUPLES HAVE DIFFICULTIES CONCEIVING.
Infertility affects men too. Sperm count and motility decrease as males get older, so their chance of fertility also declines. Studies show that around 1 in 10 men with no previous history of illness or trauma, often have a very low sperm count.
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Top tips to conceiving naturally by maintaining a happy, healthy lifestyle:
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Consume a balanced diet, rich in fibre, folate, lycopene, fruits and vegetables
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Minimise consumption of highly processed foods
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Stay positive and maintain that positive mindset
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Exercise – moderate physical activity can increase the ability to conceive
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Develop a fertility management plan for maximising natural fertility
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Go easy on yourself – Don’t be too strict on yourself
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Don’t make dramatic lifestyle changes in the quest to fall pregnant
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Keep the joy in sex, work, socialising and everyday pleasures
See a fertility specialist early on, to check if there are no other health issues.
When to seek further advice:
Many couples think that they will conceive naturally within about 3-6 months of trying and are surprised when it doesn’t happen. Anyone who is concerned about a delay in conceiving is encouraged to seek specialist fertility advice promptly. Often just seeking professional advice, regardless of age or length of time trying, makes couples feel more positive about the whole experience and gives some clarity around what might be happening.
For couples who have been trying to fall pregnant naturally, the festive season can be a difficult time. The New Year is a fantastic time to start fresh and consider different options. There are many factors that can be addressed and improved without needing IVF treatments, so people in this situation should ask their GP for a referral to see a Fertility Specialist. It is important to know that everyone’s fertility journeys are different and no two couples are the same.
IVF need not be the long and difficult process that it was in the past. Couples should lead a completely normal life during an IVF cycle. That means working as usual, coffee in the morning, a glass of wine when catching up with friends and family and having a completely normal sex life, where sex is fun again and not just aimed at ‘conceiving’. If a woman is older, not every egg is normal and several IVF cycles may be needed to find a good quality embryo that grows into a baby. The ability to lead a normal life during this time is just so important.
COUPLES SHOULD LEAD A COMPLETELY NORMAL LIFE DURING AN IVF CYCLE.
The New Year is a perfect time to consider maximising your natural fertility, or to consider the options that are available to you if you have struggled to fall pregnant.
If any of the below questions apply to you, seek the advice of a Fertility Specialist: Ask your GP for a referral to see a specialist initially, rather than as a last resort.
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Do you want to have a baby or a family?
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Are you concerned about the time it has taken for you to conceive?
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Do you already know of a medical reason why you or your partner may have fertility problems?
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Do you suspect there may be a reason based on you and your partners’ past?
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Are you single and wanting a baby?
Delaying too long is one of the main problems that leads to long term infertility.
