Worried About Fertility? Here’s What to Do First

Fertility is a worry that surrounds almost everyone’s mind. Almost every couple who is struggling to get pregnant might be feeling the brunt of poor fertility, which is not right. If you are someone who is worried about fertility, firstly, it is okay to feel anxious – and you are not alone in this journey. Our article today will serve as a guide to help you alleviate this stress. Join us as we talk about the first steps, how you can get your fertility levels checked, tips on improving your fertility and much more. Time to dive right in!

If you’re concerned about your fertility and considering your next steps, it’s important to explore all available resources. One valuable option is to seek out prenatal ultrasound services Oregon City, which can provide crucial insights into your reproductive health. These services offer a comprehensive evaluation of your fertility status, helping you make informed decisions about your future. By understanding your current health and potential challenges, you can better plan your journey towards parenthood. Whether you’re just starting to explore your options or are already on your path, having access to reliable and supportive services can make a significant difference in your experience.

Understanding Fertility Basics

Before we proceed any further, understanding a bit about the basics of fertility can help. You see, fertility is essentially your body’s ability to reproduce. The higher these fertility levels, the more is the likelihood of you conceiving naturally. For a married couple, failure to conceive after twelve months of regular, unprotected sex may suggest potential fertility issues. This is especially true for couples up to the age of 35, post which, the fertility issues are more pronounced.

Now that you have a basic idea surrounding this topic, here are some myths and facts about fertility. You may have come across some of these, when trying to get pregnant:

Myth: “If you are healthy and fit, you won’t have fertility problems.”

Fact: While staying fit and maintaining a healthier lifestyle overall can be beneficial for your fertility levels, it is no guarantee that you will not face infertility. This is because your fertility is dependent on various factors such as undiagnosed medical conditions, poor stress management, growing age and much more.

Myth: “Male fertility doesn’t decline with age”

Fact: There is enough literature that opposes this myth, with male infertility being one of the leading causes of couples fertility challenges. Studies have shown that men between the ages of 35-50, can face significant decline in their sperm quality.

Myth: “Your diet has little to no impact on your fertility”

Fact: The NHS themselves talk about how maintaining a healthy diet, especially that is rich in folic acid, will have a multitude of benefits for your fertility. Additionally, they also share that addictive substances such as alcohol, may result in poor development of the baby and can further impair your chances of getting pregnant.

What if there was a way to know your fertility levels? This is where fertility tests come in.

When to Consider a Fertility Test

As the name suggests, a fertility test is essentially a measure of the body’s reproductive abilities. This can be a series of tests that accurately determine various vitals in the body – the results from which can give a clear picture about your reproductive health. Your GP/fertility specialist may recommend a series of tests such as AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone), Saline Hysterography, Aqua scan, male semen analysis and so on. The recommendation of these tests may vary depending on your fertility goals, overall health, and other factors that surround your desired goal. Once the results from these tests are received, your fertility expert will devise a bespoke treatment plan to achieve your desired goal. Whether it is conceiving a child right away, or delaying it for a future time, options such as – IVF, IUI, egg, freezing, and even surrogacy may be lined your way. In addition to this, if you are someone who requires just a small push in their pregnancy journey, simple assistive reproductive techniques along with various lifestyle changes may also work in your favour.

A general timeline for seeking a fertility test can be divided into two parts depending on your age. This is because one of the biggest reasons for fertility decline is often biological age, which well is no one’s hand. For those under the age of 35, it is important to try for over 12 months before seeking expert help. This is because sometimes the problem may not be with you or your overall health, but multiple external factors such as professional stress, environmental conditions and other stuff may be at play. A period of 12 months, most often irons out these concerns and many people may not feel the need to consult an expert, if they get pregnant successfully.

However, if you are above the age of 35, getting a fertility test in six months of failed conception becomes necessary. It is because while you may lead a healthy and comfortable life, studies have shown that the female egg reserve, which is finite in number, may deplete to extremely low levels by the mid 30s. Similar for men too, by the age of 35, the sperm quality is unlikely to be the same as those in their mid to late 20s, which can have a significant effect in you conceiving naturally. Coupling this with undiagnosed health conditions and known health issues such as PCOS and Endometriosis, a history of miscarriage, and poor lifestyle – may further invoke the need to get a fertility test as a priority.

Healthy habits: Evaluate your lifestyle

While assistive reproductive procedures are good options to treat infertility and issues surrounding it, a simple way to maintain optimum reproductive abilities as a precautionary move – is to evaluate your lifestyle. 

Simple things such as keeping a track of your period cycles and ovulation (via an app or a fertility journal) can not only prove beneficial, but also help in assessing irregular period patterns early on. This can help in effective diagnosis at the right stage, keeping you at bay from issues down the road. Additionally, practices such as timing your intercourse in respect to your ovulation cycles and maintaining a healthy lifestyle (healthy diet, daily exercise, less reliance on addictive substances and practicing mindfulness for stress management) can do wonders for your fertility. However, if you are someone whose daily life demands a lot more from them, then opting for external supplementation in the form of oral supplements and IV drips can also be helpful. Adding folic acid and prenatal vitamins (vitamin D and calcium) in your diet can further propel you in your journey.

Seeking the right help

We understand how complicated this journey can get, especially if you are someone with a hectic life. This is why seeking the right type of health at the right stage becomes of importance. While we already know that there are multiple fertility clinics across London that provide specialised treatment for fertility issues, narrowing down to the right one – the one which suits your needs, becomes of importance. Simple things such as paying attention to their reviews, the services offered, behaviour of staff, verifying the registration and certifications of the specific clinic, along with credentials of fertility experts can result in peace of mind.

Additionally, apart from the medical aspect of the whole thing, surrounding yourself with a support group to manage emotions during this progress can also help. Many couples tend to doubt themselves and blame their bodies when unable to conceive, resulting in poor mental health and added stress. An emotional support group cannot only help you provide clarity of thought, but also assist in navigating through these negative thoughts with ease.

Taking your first steps

We hope that this article helped you in getting an overall understanding about fertility, and how it may affect your pregnancy’s outcome. It is important to know that you are not alone in this journey, and there are thousands of couples, if not millions, who struggle with fertility challenges all across the world. Thankfully, with the recent medical advancements, there is hope for everyone out there, especially for those who get their fertility issues diagnosed early on. Keeping your cool, maintaining patience, and self compassion, especially towards your partner, can not strengthen your relationship, but also benefit the mental health of both individuals.