It is common knowledge that Infertility is the inability of a couple to achieve pregnancy after 12-24 months of regular, adequate (i.e 3 or more sessions of sexual intercourse on different days every week), penetrative and unprotected sexual intercourse. However, when infertility is found in some peculiar group of people, it is advisable to start seeking the help of fertility experts after 6months of trying. The group includes;
- Women over 35 and men over 45; As we age, so does the quality of our eggs and sperm as well as our overall reproductive health. When people who fall within this age bracket are TTC, such people cannot afford to wait for too long before beginning to investigate. This makes it possible to ensure that treatment is commenced (if necessary) in order to increase their chances of conception.
- Men and women with a history of untreated of poorly treated STDs- Diseases like Gonorrhea and chlamydia could spread throughout the reproductive tract, causing damage which could subsequently reduce or even totally destroy chances of conception both in males and females hence the need to start investigating and treatment early.
- Women who have had recurrent miscarriages; miscarriages happen due to a myriad of reasons including some chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, sickle cell anemia, etc. hence women with such conditions cannot afford to delay investigating the probable cause, commence treatment and adopt lifestyle modifications that are fertility-friendly
- Men who have been diagnosed of any diseases of the genitals or had pelvic surgeries in the past– Diseases such as varicocele, undescended testes, mumps orchitis, etc in men including those who have had previous pelvic surgeries should seek expert help earlier as this could impact their reproductive health and chances at conception
- Women having irregular menstrual cycles-irregular periods (in most cases) points to an underlying gynecological pathology. Some of the commonest causes of irregular menses are endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS, etc therefore a woman having irregular periods needs to be further evaluated to investigate and treat causes in the bid to increase her chances of conception
In order to give yourself the best possible chance at achieving pregnancy, here are some valuable lifestyle tips that could make a huge difference in your fertility journey;
-Stop alcohol consumption, smoking and use of illicit drugs e.g Marijuana
-Ensure low fat diet and work on weight reduction if obese
-Avoid indiscriminate exposure to irradiations
-Men should avoid hot bath, placing laptops on their lap and wearing of tight underwear
Remember, you’re not alone on this journey. We’re here to support and cheer you on! Every little step counts.