Top 6 Surprising Facts About Fertility 

When it comes to fertility issues, numerous misconceptions accompany it. Although infertility is a common health issue, many people have neglected the need to seek advanced treatment and care due to the spreading myths. Infertility can be frustrating and affect your life physically and psychologically. However, this doesn’t necessitates that you cannot overcome it since there are numerous treatment options to alleviate your condition. That said, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility expert, Nidhee M. Sachdev MD, shares the top six must-know facts about fertility. Let’s get started.

Age is a significant factor

For many women, age is undoubtedly a significant factor in their fertility. While other factors are also ideal, your age can affect your ability to conceive. This is usually because age predicts egg quality and determines your reproductive potential. In your 20s, you’re more likely to conceive without difficulties than when you’re in your 40s. By age 40, your chances of conception can lower up to five percent. Although fertility treatments are available for your aid, you should consider trying to conceive when you’re most fertile. 

Your BMI matters

Your body weight directly affects your hormone levels and specifically can affect estrogen production. Estrogen is a hormone responsible for assisting you in ovulating often, and when they are affected, it lowers your chances of conceiving. If your body mass is less than 18 or over 32, you will experience problems ovulating and conceiving. However, the ideal body mass (BMI) for a woman to conceive is 18.5 to 24.9. Therefore you should maintain an average body mass to increase your chances of getting pregnant. 

Certain health conditions make it harder to conceive 

Although factors like BMI can be managed, certain fertility factors are genetic, or you develop them throughout your life. Such health conditions are severe and can negatively impact your ability to conceive. Conditions like uterine fibroids, ovulation disorders, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, polycystic ovarian disease, and pelvic inflammatory disease can lead to infertility. Although these conditions seem intimidating, you can overcome them with proper planning and treatments with a fertility expert. 

Women are born with a long-term supply of eggs

Unlike men, who generate eggs throughout their lifetime, women are born with enough eggs in their ovaries. You release eggs from your ovaries every month during your menstrual cycles, thus declining egg supply over the years. However, the remaining eggs, also known as ovarian reserve, continue to indicate your fertility potential. 

Your lifestyle and stress levels matter 

It’s no secret that stress can affect your hormones and menstrual cycles. Also, higher stress levels can result in irregular menstrual cycles, which is a big obstacle in knowing when you have a high probability of conceiving. On the other hand, lifestyle habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can affect your ability to conceive. Therefore, you should eat a well-balanced diet and lead a healthy life free from cigarettes and alcohol if you want to increase the odds of getting pregnant. 

Regardless of the fertility misconception circulating, you too can achieve your parenthood goal. With a healthy lifestyle and an infertility expert in your closet, you can successfully navigate any obstacle hindering your potential to conceive. Furthermore, constantly consider getting regular screenings from a professional endocrinologist, as this will go a long way in safeguarding your reproductive health.