Surprising Ways In Which You’re Lowering Your Chances Of Conceiving.
Surprising Ways In Which You’re Lowering Your Chances Of Conceiving.
Getting a bun in the oven is often a rollercoaster ride. While some people seem to have no trouble becoming pregnant, the process can be trying and long-drawn for many others. Most importantly, don’t sabotage your chances unknowingly, advises Dr Michele Lee Sook Ling, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Michele Lee Women And Fertility Clinic in Mount Alvernia Medical Centre. Find out if you’re hurting your fertility.
Doing the deed too late Don’t be fooled by celebrities who have healthy babies in their 40s – that’s a rarity, not the norm. We don’t mean to nag, but fertility does have an expiry date. “Statistically, women over 35 account for more than 50 per cent of all instances of infertility,” says Dr Lee. “Healthy women between 27 and 35 have a 40 per cent chance of getting pregnant each month. Beyond the age of 35, that percentage drops to 30 and steadily declines. By the time a woman is 40, she only has a 10 per cent chance of getting pregnant each month, even if she’s healthy.”
Puffing away “Smoking reduces your chances of conceiving, decreases the success rate of fertility treatments, and doubles the risk of miscarriages,” warns Dr Lee. Make sure your man isn’t smoking too. Second-hand smoke is also bad for you.
Ignoring the numbers on the scale Yes, it does matter how much you weigh. “Being underweight can interrupt normal menstrual cycles and disrupt or even halt ovulation,” says Dr Lee. “And while there are options available to help underweight women ovulate and get pregnant, these pregnancies are likelier to end in miscarriages or preterm births. These babies are also at an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease later on in life.” The best option is to attain a healthy weight before conceiving. Do so by eating regular meals and snacking on nutrient-dense foods throughout the day. On the fl ip side, being overweight also affects your chances of getting pregnant. In fact, obese women are three times more likely to suffer infertility than women with a normal body mass index (BMI), notes a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Above the BMI of 23.9, the relative risk of reduced fertility is significantly higher. “Being overweight while pregnant can also increase your risk of miscarriage, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure,” adds Dr Lee.
Assuming IVF will work for you “Realistically, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is only a viable option for most women until the age of 38,” says Dr William Ledger, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at The Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney in Australia and an advisor to Virtus Fertility Centre in Singapore. “Egg quality will drop beyond that, and IVF is rarely successful in women over 42 years old.” Going for IVF treatment is also a heavy financial commitment, with one cycle costing around $10,000.
Doing too much exercise Too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology has found that pushing your body to the limit during workouts temporarily reduces your fertility. Researchers followed a group of nearly 3,000 healthy women with no known fertility problems over a period of 13 years, and tracked their frequency, duration and intensity of physical activity. “Among these women, we found two groups who experienced an increased risk of infertility,” says study author Sigridur Lara Gudmundsdottir. “There were those who trained almost every day. And there were those who trained until they were completely exhausted. Those who did both had the highest risk of infertility.”
Working irregular shifts A University of Southampton study of over 119,000 women in the UK has found that those who do shift work have an 80 per cent increased risk of fertility problems than those who work regular hours. Furthermore, women who frequently worked night shifts had higher odds of miscarrying too. According to study author Dr Linden Stocker, a possible explanation is that the disruption of circadian rhythm influences and affects biological functions like reproduction.
Using the wrong lube His swimmers can get hindered if you use the wrong lubricant. Dr Lee advises couples trying to conceive to avoid using silicon- and waterbased lubricants. “These tend to decrease the ability of sperm to move through the vagina. In some cases, it can also affect sperm function.” She suggests using a fertility-friendly lubricant like Pre-Seed Personal Lubricant ($41.15, Guardian). It closely matches the pH and consistency of cervical mucus to provide a more conducive environment for the sperm. However, Dr Lee points out that going natural is still best. Engage in foreplay and allow your natural lubrication to build up before intercourse.
Pulling off crazy positions While there are currently no scientific studies that determine the best position for conception, doctors think you’re better off avoiding gravity-defying positions. In other words, you shouldn’t be on top. “This may discourage the sperm from travelling upstream,” explains Dr Lee.
Moving about too quickly Cuddling after sex is a good idea. Don’t be too quick to get up or move about. Dr Lee suggests placing a pillow under your hips and lying in bed (or wherever you guys were) for about half an hour after he has ejaculated to minimise spillage. Avoid douching and flushing out cervical fl uid too.
Putting off seeking help “Approximately 85 per cent of all couples will conceive within a year of having unprotected sexual intercourse,” says Dr Lee. If you’ve been trying and nothing’s been happening, consult a doctor. Women who have preexisting medical conditions like diabetes or irregular periods, or who are in their 30s or 40s, should seek professional help sooner, adds Dr Ledger
It’s Not You, It’s Him…
It’s easy to blame yourself when you’re not getting pregnant, but keep in mind that baby-making is a twoperson job. “Male infertility accounts for about 40 per cent of the problem in couples we see,” says Dr Lee.Along with environmental pollution and stress, a man’s weight can affect the quality of his sperm. “Signifi cantly overweight men have lower sperm counts,” says Dr Lee. Research from the University of Aberdeen in the UK has also linked male obesity to increased DNA sperm damage and lower semen levels. “Our findings were quite independent of any other factors, and seem to suggest that men who are trying for a baby should first try to achieve an ideal body weight,” says study author Dr Ghiyath Shayeb. And while their biological clocks don’t tick as fast, men don’t stay fertile forever either. According to Dr Ledger, male fertility declines once the man is over 45. Fathering off spring late in life also increases the risks of health problems in the child.
