Understanding Infertility

So, you think you might be facing the prospect of not being able to have your own baby? That can be traumatic and stressful to say the least. But the thing is, the more you stress yourself out, the lesser the chances of your ever getting pregnant! If you and your partner have been trying for a baby for the last 1 to 2 years, you might like to visit your gynecologist and get a check up.

This holds true especially if you're a woman over the age of 35 with irregular and painful periods, or you've had a miscarriage(s), use an intrauterine device (IUD) or have had surgery in the abdomen or pelvic region.

While couples are trying to conceive, they usually have unprotected sex thrice a week. And when they don't get results, it can be quite frustrating, not to mention, it kills the fun of having sex! If you think you're looking at a fertility problem, don't expect the worst. It could just be something as simple as bad timing! That is, you're not having sex near your ovulation period.

Having said that, there are certain factors that can increase the risks of infertility in men and women. A woman's fertility decreases after the age of 32. And the older one gets, there's a higher risk of miscarriages. As for men, if they're over 40 years old, they can become less fertile than men younger their age. And then, of course, there's the added hazard of alcohol and tobacco use.

People who smoke can reduce their chances of getting pregnant, while increasing the possibility of miscarrying. During conception or pregnancy, no level of alcohol is considered safe, though moderate alcohol intake doesn't seem to interfere with a man's fertility levels. Likewise, it's being speculated that excessive caffeine consumption may also lead to a decrease in fertility. Though, the verdict is still out on caffeine it does seem to contribute to the danger of a miscarriage.

Making a case for no excesses and adopting the middle path, too much of anything seems to be counterproductive. If you overdo exercising, you may face difficulties in ovulating. But, if you don't get enough exercise it can lead to weight issues that has a bearing on fertility.

Women who are seriously underweight due to crash dieting or eating disorders can also have a problem, as do women who are strictly vegetarian. Studies suggest that they might miss out on vital nutrients, such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. Ideally speaking, don't let it come to a stage where you're too stressed out to conceive. There is help out there, so please don't suffer in silence...