Most young people in their early reproductive years are much more concerned about not conceiving than they are about the potential to do so later.
There are many couples, however, who present with infertility in later years and regret not thinking more about protecting their fertility at the same time.
Of course, not all infertility is preventable and much of it is just bad luck.
However, it is useful to look at the factors that may cause future infertility and indeed those factors that may be present at the time of desired conception to see if we can assist nature in making conception easier.
Lifestyle choices are ours to make and the effects on fertility are seldom considered until it is too late.
When discussing lifestyle choices regarding conception, age is probably one of the most significant factors and indeed it is the most common reason for most patients to be at an infertility clinic.
Age has a significant effect on the chance of conception per month, and the time it takes even normally fertile couples to conceive lengthens as age increases.
There is little difference up to about age 34, but from 35 years onwards there is a significant drop in the chance of conception per month and many couples find that they take much longer to conceive than they wish.
On average it takes three to four months for a 25-year-old woman to conceive when everything else is normal and takes twice this time for someone who is 35.
This doubling of the time it takes to become pregnant over 10 years then doubles again over the ensuing four years, so that when a woman is 39 years old it is not uncommon for normally fertile couples to take more than 15 months to conceive.
There are many couples, however, who present with infertility in later years and regret not thinking more about protecting their fertility at the same time.
Of course, not all infertility is preventable and much of it is just bad luck.
However, it is useful to look at the factors that may cause future infertility and indeed those factors that may be present at the time of desired conception to see if we can assist nature in making conception easier.
Lifestyle choices are ours to make and the effects on fertility are seldom considered until it is too late.
When discussing lifestyle choices regarding conception, age is probably one of the most significant factors and indeed it is the most common reason for most patients to be at an infertility clinic.
Age has a significant effect on the chance of conception per month, and the time it takes even normally fertile couples to conceive lengthens as age increases.
There is little difference up to about age 34, but from 35 years onwards there is a significant drop in the chance of conception per month and many couples find that they take much longer to conceive than they wish.
On average it takes three to four months for a 25-year-old woman to conceive when everything else is normal and takes twice this time for someone who is 35.
This doubling of the time it takes to become pregnant over 10 years then doubles again over the ensuing four years, so that when a woman is 39 years old it is not uncommon for normally fertile couples to take more than 15 months to conceive.