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Women don\u2019t usually give much thought to their fertility, unless they are dealing with a health condition linked to their menstrual cycle.<\/p>\n
Yet, when she is trying to conceive, she might suddenly realise that falling pregnant isn\u2019t as straightforward as it seems. Indeed, many woman have preconceived notions regarding their fertility, even though numerous factors affect a person\u2019s ability to conceive. After all, it\u2019s tough to separate fact from fiction when tons of old wives\u2019 tales and superstitions exist.<\/p>\n
Dr Liana Koe, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Thomson Medical Centre\u2019s STO+G Practice, addresses commonly-asked fertility questions.<\/p>\n
1. You can\u2019t do anything to have more eggs<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, our bodies are unable to produce more eggs,\u201d Dr Koe says. \u201cWomen are born with all the potential eggs they will have, and this slowly declines throughout life.\u201d<\/p>\n In terms of numbers, she explains that a newborn has about 1 to 2 million eggs. The number gradually declines to about a few hundred thousand at puberty. The egg number decreases gradually every year, with a more dramatic decrease after age 37.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, our bodies are unable to produce more eggs. Women are born with all the potential eggs they will have, and this slowly declines throughout life.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Your period is a sign of your fertility<\/span><\/p>\n The regularity (or irregularity) of your menstrual cycle does affect your chances of conceiving.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen should ovulate (the releasing of an egg from the ovary) every month, and if no pregnancy occurs, the lining of the womb will shed and flow out as menses,\u201d explains Dr Koe. \u201cA regular monthly period usually indicates regular ovulation. An irregular period is often a sign that ovulation is not happening.\u201d<\/p>\n As ovulation is necessary for pregnancy to occur, irregular periods may therefore reduce your chances of conceiving. \u201cIt can also be a sign of underlying medical conditions that prevent the egg from being released, such as thyroid and prolactin abnormalities,\u201d Dr Koe explains.<\/p>\n 3. You can get pregnant without having an orgasm<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere are some theories that female orgasms result in womb spasms that can propel the sperm towards the egg,\u201d Dr Koe notes. \u201cNo conclusive studies have surfaced thus far, but there is no harm in making sex enjoyable to remove the stresses of conception!\u201d<\/p>\n Although having an orgasm during sex is desirable, not having one does not in any way lower your ability to conceive.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, men will need to ejaculate successfully in order to release sperm for conception,\u201d Dr Koe notes.<\/p>\n 4. Conceiving later in life will be more challenging<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs previously mentioned, there is a gradual steady decrease every year in the number of eggs a woman has,\u201d says Dr Koe.\u201d At age 37, the decrease becomes more dramatic and this results in a lower chance of conceiving.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition, conceiving after 35 increases the risk of chromosomal issues with eggs, as well as a higher chance of miscarriage.<\/p>\n Still, most women at age 35 have a 15 to 20 per cent chance of getting pregnant in a given month \u2015 or an almost 80 per cent chance of conceiving within a year.<\/p>\n As being an older mum offers numerous benefits, take heart if you\u2019re trying for a baby at a later age!<\/p>\n 5. Your weight does play a role in your ability to conceive<\/span><\/p>\n Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight is optimal for conception, as a high body mass index (BMI) of >30kg\/m2 can prevent ovulation and reduce fertility, Dr Koe notes.<\/p>\n On the other hand, an excessively low BMI (<19kg \/m2) also prevents one from ovulating, which in turn reduces fertility. As such, focus on achieving a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise.<\/p>\n Some may also question if one may be \u201ctoo fit\u201d to get pregnant. However, Dr Koe assures that as long as periods are regular, it is unlikely that one is \u201ctoo fit\u201d to conceive. \u201cOf course, anything in excess is not good \u2015 even exercise,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n 6. Being on birth control pills does not affect your future fertility<\/span><\/p>\n Being on the pill will prevent pregnancy, since is a contraceptive.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, upon stopping the pill, there should be no impact on future fertility,\u201d Dr Koe assures. \u201cStudies have shown that upon stopping birth control, pregnancy rates in the next year are the same as women who were never on the pill, regardless of the duration of use.\u201d<\/p>\n This means that the moment you stop taking the pill, its contraceptive effects will disappear and your ability to conceive returns to normal.<\/p>\n \u201cStudies have shown that upon stopping birth control, pregnancy rates in the next year are the same as women who were never on the pill, regardless of the duration of use.\u201d<\/p>\n 7. Certain sexual positions do boost your chances of conceiving<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPositions that result in the sperm being deposited closer to the cervix \u2015 such as \u2018missionary\u2019 or \u2018doggy-style\u2019 \u2015 theoretically will increase the chances of pregnancy,\u201d says Dr Koe. \u201cAfter intercourse, lying down on your back also increases sperm retention.\u201d<\/p>\n However, whatever position you choose, do make sure it that it\u2019s enjoyable, she adds. Your aim when you have intercourse is to experience pleasure, not feel the pressure of conceiving, which can result in added stress and anxiety, and will adversely affect your baby-making efforts.<\/p>\n 8. You are only fertile a few days per month<\/span><\/p>\n Ovulation tends to occur about two weeks before the next period begins. A woman\u2019s fertile window, which begins one to two days before ovulation, ends a day after ovulation (a total of about four days). \u201cHowever, sperm can survive in the body for around three to five days,\u201d Dr Koe explains.<\/p>\n To boost your pregnancy chances, she recommends having sex several days prior to ovulation (including the day you ovulate) to ensure the presence of sperm. This is because it can be difficult to predict or figure out the exact day of ovulation.<\/p>\n If working out your fertile window proves too stressful, focus on having regular intercourse about two to three times a week. \u201cThis, in fact, gives you the best chance of conceiving,\u201d Dr Koe notes.<\/p>\n 9. Consider screening tests to find out how fertile you are<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA few things are required for a successful pregnancy: Healthy sperm, ovulation, unblocked tubes (to allow the sperm and egg to meet and fertilise) and a normal womb cavity (where the baby is to implant and grow),\u201d Dr Koe notes.<\/p>\n As such, screening tests you take should include:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stogpractice.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Conceiving-9-facts-every-woman-should-know-about-her-fertility-2.jpeg\")
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