Deciding when the time is right to seek advice on fertility is personal and complex. On average, 50% of couples trying for a pregnancy will be pregnant within the first six months of starting ‘to try’ and 90% will be pregnant within a year. It takes another whole year for half of the remaining 10% to get pregnant, so usually couples are advised to wait for 1-2 years before assuming there is a problem.
However, if the woman is older than 35, if there is a female family history of early menopause or if there are known medical problems such as diabetes or previous pelvic infections, then it’s advised to seek help sooner rather than later. Similarly, if the man had undescended testes as a child or severe mumps after adolescence, then an early semen analysis is indicated.
If you have been trying to conceive for a while without success, you might be considering what options are available to you. A quick search around online and you will often end up at IVF treatment and the way that works. However, you might be wondering what other options are available to you before going down that path.
The good news is that there are certain changes you can make prior to deciding to go through an IVF cycle which might get you the results you are after. As is the case with all things regarding fertility, there is no guarantee of success, but the following options have strong evidence to support the fact they will improve your chances of getting pregnant and having a baby.
What can I do to support my fertility journey?
Getting to a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight with a BMI in the range of 19-24 is the first step which has been shown to help. Women who are out of this range, either above or below, are more likely to have problems with ovulation. For men, studies have shown that overweight and obese men are more likely to have low sperm counts or a lack of healthy sperm when compared with men at a healthier weight.
Getting your weight into that ‘healthy’ BMI range can be a tough goal to reach. A good balanced diet mixed with regular exercise is the way to go. Crash diets and weight loss pills are not likely to be sustainable, so it would serve you best to be patient and resolute in your efforts.
Another excellent thing about weight loss is that, if you are not lucky enough to conceive naturally and do opt for assisted conception, you will be giving yourself the best chance at a successful IVF cycle.
Going to see your GP
Going to see your GP is an important step to take that can help. They might be able to diagnose you with specific conditions such as anovulation (irregular periods) and then prescribe medication to help. They could also refer you to a specialist for diagnosis and management of common causes of sub-fertility such as endometriosis and tubal damage and in some cases, women will be considered for surgery. Successful surgery to help manage endometriosis and other conditions could mean that an IVF cycle is not necessary. More information around infertility treatment is available on the NHS website.
Cutting down your alcohol consumption
Cutting down on alcohol is going to be beneficial to both men and women in their aim to conceive. Alcohol is not only likely to make you gain weight, but also negatively impact the quality of your egg or sperm cells.
Quitting smoking
Studies have shown that couples who are regular smokers are half as likely to conceive. Nicotine and the tar compounds in cigarette smoke damage both eggs and sperm and are associated with a higher risk of miscarriage and premature delivery. Quitting smoking is going to significantly improve your chances of conceiving and most NHS IVF centres will not treat smokers because their success rates are lower. Stopping smoking will protect your ‘ovarian age’ and increase the chance of a healthy pregnancy. Women who are heavy smokers will have their menopause approximately 4 years ahead of schedule and this will impact not only their chance of getting pregnant but also of having a healthy baby. If you have consistent trouble quitting, you can check out the NHS website for assistance.
Limiting caffeine intake
While there aren’t any conclusive studies about the effects of caffeine on the reproductive system, most experts suggest limiting your caffeine intake to no more than 200-300 milligrams per day to be safe. Drinking more than two cups of strong coffee a day has been shown to increase the rate of miscarriage.
Exercising regularly
The health benefits of regular exercise are well known to all. Not only is it going to help reduce stress and get you to maintain a healthy weight, but a study has also shown that moderate exercise led to a shorter time to conception. Excess exercise, however, (>4 hours intensive exercise per week) in women with a low/normal BMI has been demonstrated to reduce the chance of IVF working.
Nutrients & conception
A well-balanced diet of foods rich in nutrients can help boost the health and quality of your egg or sperm cells. Many experts recommend a ‘Mediterranean diet’ as it helps provide the correct balance of nutrients to support your reproductive system. For more information on what a med diet consists of you can look at our recent article on what foods to eat and avoid for a successful pregnancy.
Supplements to improve fertility
Many can struggle to get all the nutrients required from their day-to-day diet and look to supplementing their diet. The unique Impryl formula is designed to help provide a balanced support to your metabolism and improve the quality of your egg or sperm cells. One of the only fertility supplements available with clinical data to support it, Impryl has been shown to improve the chances of success in sub-fertile men and women. There is plenty more information on the mechanism, science and success behind Impryl available to you.
Ask about your fertility history
Female family history is also relevant, so ask your mum and aunts about their fertility story. Mums are much more prepared to discuss these issues nowadays and they may be longing to be grannies and keen to help! Women today are starting to have babies 10 years later than their mothers’ generation and this has a huge impact on fertility.
