How much do you know about your fertility and reproductive health? Here are five things you need to know if you are planning to have a family:
1. A poor lifestyle can make it harder to have a baby
Smoking, a poor diet, being significantly overweight, alcohol and recreational or performance drugs such as steroids can all affect your fertility in the short and long term. If you are hoping to have a family in the near future, start making positive lifestyle changes now to improve your chances of conceiving.
2. Age does matter
Fertility does decline as you get older, not just in women but in men too. If you are waiting until later in life to have a family, be aware that it may be harder to get pregnant the older you are.
3. Anyone can be affected by infertility
Infertility can and does affect young women and men, and in many cases fertility issues only come to light when you try to conceive. A fertility assessment can be useful for future family planning, as it can help to reveal any issues with your fertility that you need to be aware of.
4. Fertility is a man’s issue too
Fertility is not just a woman’s problem. Did you know the most common reason for IVF cycles being carried out, according to HFEA data, is male infertility? It is possible for some sperm issues to be solved through lifestyle improvement, because new sperm is made everyday. So make sure both of you are leading the best healthy lifestyle you can, and if you still do not conceive, book a male fertility assessment.
5. Getting pregnant again is not always easy
If you have had a baby before with no issues, you may assume it will be just as simple to have another child. But secondary infertility is more common than you might think. It could be because you are older this time, or there are fertility issues you were not aware of the first time around. Do not wait too long before you see a fertility specialist, as treatment success rates decrease with age.
Worried about your fertility?
If you want to know about your own fertility, book a private fertility assessment with our team. It includes a consultation with one of our fertility doctors, where we will explain your results and what they mean for your ability to conceive, together with useful advice about getting pregnant and lifestyle changes for fertility. Book online or call us on 0161 300 2737.
Last updated: 24th February 2019
