If you’re just beginning to think about becoming pregnant, infertility may not be on your radar. However, if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than a few months, questions about your fertility may be very much at the front of your mind. It can be confusing to know when you should worry or start thinking about getting help. If it’s taking you longer than you think it should to get pregnant, here are some important things to know:
- If you’re struggling to become pregnant, know that you’re not alone. About 1 in 6 couples in Canada face infertility. And that number is rising; it’s doubled since the 1980’s.
- Most women assume that the issue with infertility lies with them, but infertility isn’t just about the woman. In reality, only about 40% of the time is the underlying source of infertility due solely to the woman. That’s compared to the underlying source being male infertility factor 30-40% of the time, and the source being with both 20% of the time. And 10% of the time, the cause of infertility is unknown.
- You’ve probably heard that as you age, the quality and quantity of your eggs decrease, making it harder to become pregnant—which is true. The closer you get to age 40, the higher the risk of miscarriage and chromosomal problems with the fetus.
- That said, if you’re beginning to get stressed because you haven’t started trying to become pregnant by the time you’re 30, all is not lost. At the age of 30 about 91% of women are able to become pregnant. By age 35, over three quarters of women can still become pregnant and over half of women at age 40 are still able to get pregnant.
- In women, there’s a number of causes for infertility, these include:
- Advancing age
- Poor egg quality
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Having a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such a chlamydia or a pelvic infection
- Uterine issues, such as polyps or fibroids
- Fallopian tube issues, such as scarring or blockages
- Having endometriosis or PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
- Hormonal imbalances
- Going through menopause prior to the age of 40
- For men the causes of infertility are fewer, but include hormonal imbalances, low sperm count, poor quality sperm (such as lack of motility) and having had an STI.
- Factors for infertility that may affect both men and women include current or previous illnesses, cancer treatments, being overweight or underweight and a history of heavy alcohol or tobacco use.
- There’s some good news when it comes to treating infertility, and it’s that in many cases the underlying causes of infertility are reversible. For women, treatments may include balancing hormones, simple surgeries to remove fibroids, ovarian cysts or to unblock fallopian tubes and clearing infections. In addition, natural treatments, such as acupuncture and naturopathic medicine can help balance hormones, improve egg quality, stimulate ovulation, support the success of reproductive technology techniques, and treat health conditions contributing to infertility. Treating infertility in men may include resolving hormonal imbalances, treating infections or surgery to clear blockages. Acupuncture and naturopathic medicine can be helpful in improving sperm quality and motility, increase sperm production and enhance sexual vitality. In many cases male factor infertility is overcome through assisted reproductive technology.
- Assisted reproductive technology are fertility treatments that help with conception through medical procedures. They include the use of fertility drugs that induce ovulation, intrauterine insemination (IUI), in which the sperm is deposited directly into the women’s uterus; and IVF (in vitro fertilization), in which the sperm and egg are fertilized outside the body in a lab dish and then implanted into the uterus to grow.
- If you’re trying to become pregnant, having sex every day may not be your best plan. A better strategy is one to two days prior and on the day in which you’re ovulating to be sexually active. Ovulation usually occurs about 14 days prior to the beginning of your next period. Not sure when you’re ovulating? You can by an ovulation predictor test kit from the drug store, which is pretty accurate in telling you which days are prime for trying to become pregnant.
- When should you get help? You should get checked out by your health care provider if you’re younger than 35 and have been unsuccessfully trying to become pregnant for a year or more. If you’re older than 35, you should get help sooner—after six months of trying to become pregnant. For men, you should get help if you’ve had a testicular injury or surgery in the past, have had an STI, treatment for cancer or have erection/ejaculation issues.
- Sometimes getting pregnant just takes time. Many couples think that once they begin trying it should be easy to conceive. However, it’s normal for it to take several cycles to become pregnant. In addition after using birth control methods for years, especially oral contraceptives, it’s possible that your body just needs some time to switch gears.
At BodaHealth, we understand how frustrating it can be if you’re having trouble getting pregnant—whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or have turned to assisted reproductive techniques. We are one of the largest natural health clinics in Vancouver, and we’re committed to helping couples in Vancouver who are trying to conceive. Our entire team—acupuncture practitioners, naturopathic physicians, nutritionists and massage therapists—are all trained and have years of clinical experience in working with patients on their fertility and pregnancy journey. If you’d like more information about how we can help you, please contact us today.
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