Fertility is a measure of someone's ability to get pregnant/get
someone pregnant. About 85% of couples will get pregnant naturally
within one year if they have regular unprotected sex.
Regular sex throughout the cycle is the most effective way of
getting pregnant, however a woman is most likely to get pregnant if
she has sex on the days around ovulation (when egg is released from
the ovaries). This varies from woman to woman but normally
occurs 12-16 days before the start of a woman's next menstrual
period.
Women's fertility problems may be due to ovulatory problems, egg
quality, damage to the Fallopian tubes or a combination of these
factors. Medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and
being over or underweight can interfere with ovulation. With
increasing age, the quality of a woman's eggs decrease which again
may affect her ability to get pregnant.
There are changes you can make to your lifestyle which may
improve your chances of getting pregnant, i.e. reducing the amount
of alcohol you or your partner drinks, stopping smoking, eating a
balanced diet and exercising regularly. Women should take folic
acid supplements whilst trying to get pregnant and during the first
12 weeks of pregnancy.
If you and your partner have been trying to get pregnant but
have been unsuccessful, or if you have concerns about your
fertility you can get some advice from your local doctor
or visiting a Sandyford Clinic. They will
discuss your medical history and may arrange some initial tests and
referral to a fertility specialist if necessary.