Friday 24 July 2020

5 FANTASTIC FEMALE FERTILITY FACTS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW

Since fertility is such a sensitive subject, it isn’t discussed as often as it perhaps should be. In fact, many would argue that young people are not given a thorough enough education around fertility and some of the struggles that people are faced with when trying to conceive. 

With that said, I have teamed up with a clinic in London who provide IVF fertility treatments to share some information.

1. Around 48.5 million couples worldwide are suffering from infertility

This equates to around 1 in 6 couples who are struggling to conceive by natural means. Most couples are lucky enough to be able to conceive, with regular unprotected sex, after 1-2 years. If you have been trying for this long with no success, it might be time to book an appointment with your GP so you can discuss your concerns and get the support you need.

2. With each menstrual cycle, a woman loses around 3000-5000 eggs

At birth, a female baby has the most eggs she’ll ever have; around 1-2 million eggs. Eventually, this egg reserve will run out, as women lose many of them during each menstrual cycle. In fact, once a woman reaches the age of 35, her fertility rapidly declines, making it a lot harder to conceive naturally.

 However, it is possible for a woman to preserve her fertility by freezing her eggs. SciQuip have a number of amazing products that can facilitate this .

3. Smoking during pregnancy has a negative impact on your unborn child’s future fertility

You’re probably already aware that smoking, alcohol and stress can affect fertility in both sexes and smoking while pregnant can harm the baby. However, you may not know that it can actually lead to future problems for your unborn child and their own ability to conceive. If you need help quitting, don’t be afraid to ask for it!

4. Being underweight or overweight can affect your ability to conceive

Extreme exercise or dieting can stop a woman’s menstrual cycle and therefore prevent pregnancy. Being overweight and eating fatty foods can lead to blood pressure problems or diseases like diabetes. With that said, try and aim for a healthy BMI of somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9. 

5. Some STIs can lead to infertility and health problems for both yourself and your baby

The two most common STIs in the UK are gonorrhoea and chlamydia. If these are left untreated, they can cause infertility in both men and women. For example, chlamydia can result in pelvic inflammatory disease for women and damaged/scarred fallopian tubes. This prevents the egg from travelling to the womb. IVF bypasses the need for viable fallopian tubes. If you have, or have had, an STI, it would be wise to discuss with your doctor so that you can flag up any potential problems with conceiving.

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