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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