Planning Pregnancy
Planning to start a family can be approached many different ways. Sometimes you need the expertise of a fertility specialist to assist with your decisions.
Planning Pregnancy?
If you are planning to start a family, here are some tips that may help you:
- It is very important to be as healthy as you can be prior to pregnancy. This will help you to conceive and will ensure baby has the best start possible. Cutting out cigarettes and alcohol, taking folate supplements and being in a healthy weight range are an excellent start.
- Ovulation occurs 14 days after the first day of your period of a 28 day cycle. Therefore, the window for fertilisation should be between day 10 and 18, and intercourse every other day around this period should give you the best chance at conceiving.
- Endometriosis can affect fertility. Timely diagnosis and treatment can improve the outcome. If you have painful periods or painful intercourse it’s advisable to be referred to a gynaecologist through your GP.
- If there is sudden gain in weight, then it is important to see your GP to exclude hormonal problems, including thyroid disorder.
- PCOS is another common cause of infertility. Also, if you have irregular cycles or unwanted hair growth, it is advisable to organise referral to gynaecologist through your GP.
- Chlamydia can affect the fertility by blocking the Fallopian tubes. Hence, it is important to have safe sex practices.
- If you are 30-years-old and have not conceived within 6-12 months of trying, it is time to see your GP to look into any possible fertility problems you or your partner may have. By 35 years of age you should see your doctor after 6 months of trying. To optimise your chance of pregnancy you may need IVF or other fertility treatments.