AD| How Much Do You Know About Your Fertility?

Women’s fertility is a complex matter which we often neglect to learn about until faced with complications when trying to conceive. Many people avoid the topic altogether, as there can be misplaced feelings of shame or taboo surrounding the subject. Broadening your understanding of your fertility and menstrual cycle can be helpful for all women, whether you hope to have children or not. If you have decided to try and get pregnant, understanding your fertility could be the key to helping you conceive successfully. A fertility clinic in London has shared some information to help you expand your knowledge. 

Learning to understand your cycle should be your first step. Start by recording your periods, you can soon build a picture of your monthly cycle which will allow you to calculate when ovulation will occur. For those trying to conceive this will indicate the best days to have sex to optimise your chances of getting pregnant. It is also handy to help you recognise patterns throughout your cycle so you can better understand and anticipate symptoms that may arise. There are several apps available which help you track your period and pinpoint ovulation, though a simple calendar could work just as well once you figure out what you’re doing. If you’re still a little unsure, ovulation kits can help you determine your most fertile days. 

There are a few factors that can affect fertility, such as weight, lifestyle and most notably, age. When we are born we have the most eggs we will ever have and these slowly disintegrate as we get older. Experts claim that a woman’s most fertile years are in her twenties, and egg counts start to decline more rapidly from mid-thirties onwards. This doesn’t mean that conception is impossible after this point, but it is advisable to seek medical support if you are under 35 and have been trying for 12 months, or 35+ and have been trying to conceive for more than 6 months without success.