5 Fantastic Facts About Female Fertility

For many women, the path to becoming a mother is pretty straightforward, with limited stress. For others, complications form roadblocks and make the process more difficult. 

Fertility is hugely complex and young people aren’t really taught all that much about it whilst in school. 

With that said, a lot of us are guilty of not knowing how we can increase our chances of becoming pregnant if that’s something we want. I have teamed up with a London fertility centre to share five fantastic facts about female fertility. 

 

1.     BMI Can Hinder a Woman’s Chances of Conceiving

 

Being either underweight or overweight can cause complications that make it difficult to conceive. Excessive exercising, for example, can prevent a woman’s menstrual cycle, which is obviously a necessary component in becoming pregnant. Eating fatty foods can result in high blood pressure and certain diseases, which also make conception difficult. If you’d like to become pregnant, either now or in the future, aim for a healthy BMI of anything between 18.5 and 24.9.

 

2.     When a Female Baby is Born, She Has Between One and Two Million Eggs

 

This is the most eggs she’ll ever have. Over time, this egg reserve runs out, as around 3000-5000 are lost with each menstrual cycle. When a woman reaches the age of 35, her fertility starts to decline rapidly, making it harder to conceive. Many women choose to freeze their eggs as a way to preserve their fertility. 

 

3.     IVF Bypasses the Need for Viable Fallopian Tubes

 

Blocked, scarred or damaged fallopian tubes prevent natural conception. During IVF treatment, the eggs are fertilised in a lab and placed into the uterus where they can implant and grow, meaning the fallopian tubes are completely bypassed. 

 

4.     Certain STIs Can Lead to Infertility

 

The most common sexually transmitted diseases in the UK are gonorrhoea and chlamydia. When left untreated, these, and other STIs, can cause infertility in both men and women. If you’re planning to have a baby, ask your GP for a full health check-up, including your sexual health, to ensure it is safe for yourself and your unborn child, and indeed, possible. 

 

5.     Smoking During Pregnancy is Extremely Harmful to the Baby

 

Smoking while pregnant can cause premature birth, low birth weight and certain defects. It is fairly common knowledge that you’re not supposed to smoke while pregnant, but what you may not have known is that it can actually affect the child’s own ability to conceive in the future.

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YogaBellies

 New YogaBellies Classes Launch in the UK

 

 Yoga and meditation are two of the most powerful ways to reduce anxiety and keep both physically and mentally healthy during unstable times. 

YogaBellies, the yoga company with instructors all over the UK have unveiled two exciting new courses to their list of fitness workshops. 

 

 YogaBellies Nurture 

This class is aimed at women who need support immediately after giving birth. Traditionally, this was a time when new mothers were supported by ‘the village’, a community of women around them such as grandmothers, aunts, friends and neighbours. But today, women tend to be left home alone with their partner and new baby – that is until their partner goes out to work too. 

Without a community, women are more likely to suffer from baby blues and post-natal depression. YogaBellies Nurture offers support when women need it most. The classes include postpartum self and infant massage techniques, rituals and philosophies, creating that much-needed ‘village.’ 

A unique blend of care and recuperation for a new mum, Nurture is not a yoga class, but a supportive environment of women where you learn to relax, bond with your baby, meet other women just like you, revive and restore. 

Find your nearest class here – https://yogabellies.com/teachers/category/nurture/

 

-       YogaBellies for Fertility 

This class is perfect for women who are trying to conceive or those who want to get their body in the best possible condition for conception. Yoga has real benefits for women trying for a baby and this course is perfect for those who are trying for the first time or are embarking on an IVF journey. The 8-week classes cover a different topic each week, focusing on stress management, nutrition, relaxation, fertility support and the power of positivity. 

Using feminine yoga principles, the class focuses on pranayama for stress and enhancing fertility, yoga asana for stress and hormone regulations and to help you build a healthy, endometrial lining. Women will also be taught how to adapt asanas as per their menstrual cycle and fertility treatment. 

Find your nearest class here - https://yogabellies.com/classes/fertility/

 

 

YogaBellies was launched in 2008 by Yoga Elder, Cheryl MacDonald when she first started teaching pregnancy yoga in her spare bedroom after her son was born and she was made redundant while on maternity leave. She wanted to help women have fun and connect with other women while practising yoga, creating a warm and supportive environment. She has since helped thousands of women, at every stage of their lives, wanting to attend regular yoga classes and those who wanted to start up their own business as a Yoga Instructor. A hugely successful franchisee model, Cheryl now mentors 100 franchisees across the UK who provide courses face to face and online. 

Founder of YogaBellies, Cheryl MacDonald says: “I want to make my classes as inclusive, accessible and fun as possible. In these really testing times, it’s important that women of all ages have a network they can reach out to, of women feeling similar things as them. 

The new Nurture and Fertility Yoga classes are a fantastic complement to our Pregnancy and Birth, Mum and Baby, Coreplay and Luna classes we hold and I’m really excited to welcome women along. You don’t have to be holier than thou to enjoy yoga, just looking for a new, healthy challenge and some fun along the way.”

 

Their other hugely popular courses include:

 

-       YogaBellies for Pregnancy & Birth – Prenatal sessions that incorporate traditional yoga asanas, self-hypnosis and deep relaxation. It integrates soothing comfort techniques for birth and unique touch therapies for mum and new baby. These 1 hour 15 minutes classes are perfect for pregnant women and new mums.

 

-       YogaBellies for Mum & Baby – Baby yoga has been scientifically proven to help with a baby’s brain development, growth, self-soothing and common ailments such as colic, reflux and poor sleep. This class incorporates baby yoga postures so they can practice with mum. Learn breath awareness and relaxation techniques which help increase energy levels and allow mum to relax with their baby. The class includes YogaBellies baby touch therapies, as well as beautiful songs, games and positive life building experiences, leaving mum and baby feeling stretched, revived and relaxed. 

 

-       YogaBellies Luna – Graceful, flowing and feminine yoga to balance hormonal fluctuations. This class offers calming, slower-paced ‘internal’ poses that are appropriate for women throughout their monthly cycle. Perfect for all women, particularly those experiencing menopausal changes and PMS, the classes help bring harmony and balance into a woman’s everyday life. 

 

-       YogaBellies CorePlay – a dynamic yoga practise that focuses on strengthening the BAPs – the back, abs and pelvic floor. The flowing Coreplay sequence allows you to tone the muscles or ‘yang’ tissues of your body. By repeating a sequence of postures, the class aims to develop muscular strength and flexibility over time. Designed especially for women, it focuses on the areas key to their long-lasting health and happiness, helping balance their body, mind and soul. Each class style is focused on the specific physical, emotional, hormonal and spiritual needs of women – combining, yoga, inspiring music and delicious aromatherapy blends. 

 To find out more and see if there are classes by you head over to -

www.yogabellies.com