Fertility is complex and there isn’t a one size fits all approach to conceiving. Everyone is different and what works for one person might not work for another. There are some factors which impact how long it takes to get pregnant, and understanding these can help you on your conception journey and give you clues as to when you might need some assistance in the form of IVF fertility treatments.
Age and fertility
Age is one of the biggest factors that impacts on conception chances. For women, fertility generally peaks in the mid-20s to early-30s, before it starts to decline quite rapidly in the mid-30s. This is because the number and quality of eggs decrease at this age. The chances of needing fertility treatment increase in the late-30s to 40s. Men’s fertility does also decline with age, although not on the same scale as female fertility. In general, 7 out of 10 women aged 30 and 6 out of 10 women aged 35 will conceive within one year, while only 4 out of 10 women aged 40 will get pregnant in the same timeframe. After the age of 40, the chances decrease even further.
Lifestyle and fertility
As well as age, fertility levels can also be impacted by lifestyle habits. Being underweight or overweight can detrimentally affect ovulation, which in turn impacts on the chances of conceiving, so getting yourself into a healthy weight range can increase fertility. Smoking can also have a negative effect, as can drinking too much alcohol or ingesting too much caffeine. Exercising regularly and keeping active can help increase the chances of conception. It’s all about keeping your body in the optimum condition for getting pregnant by reducing any negative lifestyle habits.
Contraception and fertility
Some forms of contraception can delay fertility for a while after you stop taking them, so it’s best to consult your doctor about coming off contraception and when you should start trying to get pregnant afterwards.
When you should seek help
If you have been trying to conceive for a year without success, it might be time to seek support; however, you may want to get help sooner if you’re in your late-30s or 40s, or you or your partner have a known fertility issue such as polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis, or a low sperm count. In these cases, IVF fertility treatments can help as they will be targeted to your particular situation.
As you can see, fertility is a complicated issue, but there is support out there if you’re struggling to conceive.
