It is quite common to think that it is easy to get pregnant. At school we were scared into believing that it is really easy to get pregnant and there was a huge push to educate on contraception. But statistically it takes time to fall pregnant.
For women up to and including the age of 25, 60% will be pregnant at 6 months of trying; 85% at a year. And of 100 couples trying to conceive, 40 will not be pregnant after 5 months, and 15 will not have conceived after a year of trying.
For women of 35 or over the statistics lengthen: 60% will be pregnant at a year, and 85% at 2 years. Age being the factor to reduce the chances of conception.
Men account for almost 40% of the reasons behind fertility treatment.
When that positive pregnancy test doesn’t come quickly, anxiety and worry can quickly set in, and this level of stress only adds to the problem. And this then often leads to a quick jump into IVF without properly giving the issue enough time and attention it needs for it to potentially happen naturally.
Why Is It Hard to Get Pregnant?
There are many possible reasons why pregnancy may not happen as quickly as expected. Common factors in addition to already mentioned age-related changes in fertility and sperm health issues include ovulation problems, hormone imbalances, metabolic health issues, endometriosis, fallopian tube problems, immune dysregulation, and lifestyle factors. In some cases, standard fertility tests appear normal and no clear explanation is found.
Understanding which factors may be affecting your fertility is often the first step towards improving your chances of conception and identifying the most appropriate support. My Fertility Journey Review takes a detailed look at your history, investigations, cycle health and potential barriers to conception from both a Western and Chinese medicine perspective. This can be in-person or remote via Zoom.
What can I do?
Get to know your cycles
Understanding your menstrual cycle is key to timing intercourse properly and knowing the signs of ovulation and a healthy follicular and luteal phase, as well as a healthy bleed. Don’t rely on apps to tell you when you are ovulating and when you should be next on your period; look for stretchy egg white cervical mucus and make a note of which day of your cycle this is observed. Take your basal body temperature first thing every morning with a properly calibrated thermometer and mark this on a chart. Look at your menstrual blood and observe its colour, texture, and notice any premenstrual pains and tension you feel, and whether this carries on into your period. Doing this for a few months can built up a good picture of your menstrual health and allows you to time intercourse accordingly (every other day between the end of your bleed and ovulation).
What do you class as normal?
By this I mean, what are the things that you regularly put up with that really you shouldn’t have to? Such as extreme pain, running to the toilet after eating certain foods, avoiding particular foods/products because they irritate your tummy or skin, heart burn, fatigue, heavy periods, painful periods, acne, hot flushes, IBS, constipation, diarrhoea, headaches. Symptoms you put up with could be indicators of imbalances that need to be smoothed out in order to create a baby-friendly environment within your body.
Dig a little deeper
Get tested properly. A basic Day 2 hormone panel from the GP is a good starting point, but even that can be difficult to get. Progesterone needs to be tested separately 7 days after you have ovulated (another good reason to get to know your cycle). A full thyroid panel is also useful, as is Vitamin D and iron levels. Consider getting these panels done privately if necessary. If you are local to me in Lancashire and Fylde, I work in partnership with Fylde Private Medical to offer a bespoke set of fertility-specific tests. And please realise that when using an IVF clinic they will run tests to see if you will respond to IVF and therefore they can sell you IVF. This is very different from uncovering the root of the imbalance.
Look at him
As previously mentioned, 40% of all fertility treatment is because of male factor. It is so easy to improve sperm quality quickly by improving diet, nutritional choices, reducing alcohol and smoking, and keeping testicles cool and free. Reduce the use of hot baths, saunas, hot tubs. Reduce sitting around in tight clothing. Look at hobbies which can increase the heat to this area: cycling, gaming etc. Use a good quality men’s fertility health supplement like Ovum. Keep mobile phones out of front trouser pockets.
Looking for Answers?
If you’ve been trying to conceive and are wondering why it’s not happening, it’s easy to feel frustrated, confused or overwhelmed. The reality is that fertility is influenced by many factors, including hormones, ovulation, metabolic health, inflammation, nutrition, stress and sperm quality.
If you’re struggling to identify what’s preventing pregnancy, my Fertility Journey Review takes a detailed look at your history, investigations, cycle health and potential barriers to conception from both a Western and Chinese medicine perspective. This can be in-person or remote via Zoom.
A practical self-guided fertility ear acupressure programme featuring pattern identification, point-finding photographs, a four-week routine and tracking tools to help you use ear acupressure consistently and confidently.
A 90-minute one-to-one Zoom consultation designed to review your fertility history, previous investigations and possible next steps.
