10 Interesting Fertility Facts You Need to Know

Fertility is simply the ability to conceive a child. While it seems like a natural process, many conditions may make it less likely. Hopefully, by knowing some facts, one can increase the chances of pregnancy.

How much do you know about fertility and conception?

Statistics suggest that one out of six couples are having problems with starting a family. While some of them are caused by environmental chemicals and factors that affect the hormones, others are due to cultural and societal trends that encourage women to choose to delay starting a family until they become established in their respective careers.

Now, the problem is that unless women are really trying to get pregnant, they don’t know much about fertility and the factors that can affect their chances. So, in an effort to get us all a bit educated about fertility, we have come up with this list of interesting fertility facts.

Getting Pregnant May Take Time, Even for Fertile and Healthy Couples.

True, getting pregnant requires time and effort. Even healthy and fertile couples don’t conceive right away.

Studies suggest that the chance of a natural conception for couples below the age of 35 is only 20 to 37%. As you can see, the numbers seem low. But eventually, it rises to up to 80% after a year of trying.

Good health does not necessarily mean you are fertile.

Sure, you exercise every day. You eat a well-balanced diet. And most importantly, you have normal blood and cholesterol levels. But it does not mean you are fertile.

One out of 10 healthy couples may experience fertility issues. The causes can be attributed to the female, to the male, or both parties. And the biggest factor that may affect fertility is age.

For a healthy woman, studies suggest that fertility peaks in their mid 20s. At the age of 27, it begins to decline. Around the age of 37, it drops.

For such reason, it is advised that women aged 35 and above should consult a fertility specialist if their efforts to get pregnant don’t work.

Weight can affect a woman’s ability to conceive.

Yes, you read it right. Infertility cases may also be caused by weight problems. If your body is malnourished, and your menstruation is irregular, you might have problems with conception. This is because normal ovulation requires a minimum of 22 percent body fat. On the other hand, being obese can also affect hormone balance and prevent ovulation.

But being malnourish or obese does not mean there is no hope. By shedding and gaining pounds, you can remedy weight-related fertility issues.

Female infertility has 4 common causes.

When a woman is having difficulty conceiving, there are four possible causes that experts look into. They check if the fallopian tubes are damaged. If not, they check the endometriosis uterine. If both are okay, it could possibly be caused by ovulation problems or cervical disorders.

One major cause of male infertility is sperm DNA damage.

Once a man reaches the age of 25, the quantity and the quality of the sperm diminishes. This decrease damages the sperm DNA, affecting fertility and increasing the risk of miscarriage.

Men have biological fertility clocks, too.

The belief that age-related fertility is only a female issue has been debunked by studies. Researchers from the Bristol and Brunel Universities put 8,500 couples to a test. They found that 8 percent of men below 25 years of age failed to impregnate their partners after a year of trying. This number rises to 15 percent after the age of 35.

Ovulation day is not always the best day.

After an intercourse, a sperm can only survive in the female reproductive system for up to three days. This means having sex on a daily basis, or even on ovulation day alone, is not necessary. What is important is knowing when a woman is fertile.

A woman is most likely to be fertile for six days. The first five days is when the egg is released from the ovary and the last day would be the day of ovulation.

Your birth control choices have effects on fertility.

No, it’s not a joke. It’s the truth. The birth control method choice of a woman has an impact on fertility. Women who use progesterone injections might need to wait for fertility conditions to be normal after they stop using the medication for six months and above. Oral contraceptives, in contrary, help preserve fertility.

Your partner’s choice of underwear does not impact fertility.

Back then, men who want to become fathers were discouraged from wearing underwear. This is because their tight fit is said to hold the testicles close to the body, raising the temperature and causing the sperm count to decrease.

Although it is true that a high temperature is harmful to the sperm, a man’s choice of underwear does not heat things up down there.

Certain foods can affect fertility.

There is no such thing as a magic diet that increases fertility. The best thing that one can do is to eat a diet with nutrients and fiber, and steer clear of highly-processed foods.

For couples trying to conceive, it is also important to take lots of folic acid. This helps improve sperm count and prevent birth defects.

And while some rumors say that caffeine can affect your chances of conception, don’t get rid of your favorite cup just yet. There have been cases when women who drank more than a cup of coffee daily were able to successfully conceive than those who drank less.

Bonus and Important Fact: FERTILITY IS A SENSITIVE SUBJECT.

It is true that fertility is a sensitive topic, and it stays that way for a reason. The good thing is that there are lots of support groups that couples try to conceive can reach out to when needed. Plus, there is a roster of natural products that boost fertility and many assisted fertility methods that can opt for.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, lifestyle choices can impact fertility. And timing is everything. Well, some of you might not appreciate all these facts now. But later in your life when you realize that you actually want to have a baby, all this will come together.