Are you asking questions about your fertility? Wondering what certain terms really mean? Or maybe you’rethinking about having a baby soon and have worries about your fertility due to age or other factors. You may have even considered IVF treatment if you’re already worried that conceiving might be difficult. Here’s a handy breakdown of fertility for both men and women – answering some of the most commonly asked questions.
What age are women and men most fertile?
This question doesn’t have a definitive answer but there are some commonly accepted theories. It’s a fact however that as we age, both men and women experience a decrease in fertility. A broadly accepted notion is that women under 35 and men under 40 are more fertile than those older than these ages.
How exactly does age impact fertility?
Men are not born with all the sperm they will ever have but continue making new sperm daily throughout their life. However, the quality of that sperm decreases as men age, thus their chances of fathering a baby depletes.
Women are born with all of the eggs they will ever have. That means they cannot make more – they have a finite amount. As women ovulate, the egg supply lowers over the years. By age 35, most women have around 100, 000 eggs – by age 35 that will have decreased to around 80,000. By the late 30s it could be fewer than 25,000
At what point during the menstrual cycle are women most fertile?
Women have a fertile window that lasts for about 6 days. That’s the 5
days prior to ovulation and the day of ovulation. But the egg is
fertile for only 24 hours.There are many methods that you can use to work out when you
ovulate. Some women rely on counting days and using a calendar-based method, especially if their cycles are quite regular. Others track their basal body temperature each morning to detect the slight rise that happens after ovulation.Also, ovulation test kits are a popular option. These work by measuring hormone levels in your urine and can give a more precise indication of your fertile days. Some women also learn to recognize physical signs, like changes in cervical mucus, which can become clear and stretchy around ovulation.If your periods are regular, all of these tracking methods become a bit easier to manage. But even if your cycle is irregular, keeping a record over a few months can still help you identify patterns. The key is to find a method that you can stick with and that feels right for your routine.
What lifestyle choices can decrease my fertility?
There are a number of lifestyle choices that can lower fertility.
These include the following.
• Being overweight
• Being underweight
• Drinking alcohol
• Taking recreational drugs
• Drinking too much caffeine
All of these can throw off your body’s balance, which can make it harder to conceive.
Of course, there are people who fall pregnant every day who indulge in any number of the above, but if you’re actively seeking to get pregnant, then make some healthy changes. This is for both men and women.
For example, excess weight, on either end of the scale, can interfere with hormone levels. Alcohol and drug use may impact egg and sperm quality. And while your morning coffee probably isn’t the enemy, overdoing caffeine might also play a small role. It’s not about being perfect, just being mindful.
If you have questions or concerns about your fertility, remember that a trip to your G.P. should be your first port of call.
They can help you make sense of what’s normal, what might need attention, and what steps to take next.
