Fertility: The Facts

According to the NHS, out of every 100 couples, approximately 80 get pregnant within one year whilst the rest take longer to conceive. If you are trying to conceive naturally, but it's taking some time, take a look at the following facts about fertility to see if any of the following applies to you.

Fertility facts

1. IVF on the NHS is restricted to those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or under 

2. The British Fertility Society recommends a cut off of BMI 35 because of the risks to both mother and baby

3. Women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), one of the most common causes of infertility, tend to put on weight because of their condition and struggle more than other women to lose it through diet and exercise alone

4. Men who are either overweight or underweight may find that they have a lower than average sperm count

5. Participating in a group programme involving exercise and dietary advice increases the chances of pregnancy

6. You are most likely to get pregnant if you have sex in the five days or so before you ovulate 

Also, did you know...? 

- Gum disease can actually lead to premature delivery and low birth weight in babies
- Poor oral hygiene can infect your partner’s sperm 
- Fertility in women is expected to end roughly five to ten years before menopause begins 
- A woman is born with all the eggs she will have in her lifetime
- After 35, the number of eggs you have, and the health of those eggs, starts to dramatically decline
- A healthy 30-year-old woman has a 20% chance of getting pregnant each menstrual cycle, this falls to 5% for a woman aged 40
- Tight underwear can affect the quality of a man’s sperm - due to overheating
- The chance of conception is over 80% in the first year if the couple do not use contraception and have regular sexual intercourse