How Much Do You Know About Your Fertility?
Fertility might be something you only start to think about when you’ve decided to start a family but are struggling to fall pregnant. If you’re exploring the possibility of IVF treatment, you’ll learn a lot about fertility in general and your fertility specifically. There are a lot of myths out there surrounding the topic, so if you’re struggling to conceive, read on for some information from an IVF treatment clinic to help you understand more about fertility.
Fertility and age
Healthy women are most fertile in their mid-20s, and fertility levels start to decline in the mid-30s. Your fertility levels will then continue to decrease year on year after that point, because the number and quality of eggs you produce lessens with age. For men, fertility starts to decline around age 40 to 45 years due to a decrease in the number and quality of sperm produced. This isn’t to say you can’t fall pregnant after these ages; fertility is influenced by genetic and lifestyle factors which will vary from one person to the next. It may take longer to fall pregnant though and the likelihood of needing fertility treatment increases with age.
Lifestyle and fertility
While women can fall pregnant at any size, having a high BMI and body fat percentage can interfere with oestrogen levels, increasing them in a way which affects your cycle. In addition, being overweight can increase insulin levels which may cause ovulatory dysfunction. Oestrogen levels can also be affected by being underweight. You should aim for a weight within the healthy BMI range to maximise the chances of falling pregnant. As well as thinking about your weight, you should also consider other lifestyle factors which could affect your fertility. Try to avoid or quit smoking as the chemicals in cigarette smoke can speed up the loss of eggs and reduce their quality.
Fertility and Stress
If you’re attempting to get pregnant, try and reduce your stress levels as much as possible as stress hormones can interfere with fertility. Think about the things in your life that cause you stress and see how you can minimise or eliminate them altogether. You might find it helpful to practise mindfulness or meditation, and take regular exercise, to keep stress and anxiety under control.
Fertility can feel like a bit of a minefield but educating yourself about fertility and learning about your own fertility during IVF treatment will help you feel a bit more in control of the process.
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