1-7 November 2017
Join us for fertility discussions, advice & support
Age and Fertility: a snapshot
Women: fertility declines sharply from age 35
Men: some studies show a reduction from age 40 in couples trying to become pregnant naturally, and from 50 when using IVF
Learn your mother’s age at menopause: if earlier than the average of 52, you should seek advice earlier
Have an AMH test to understand your ovarian reserve (egg numbers) compared to other women of the same age
Plan for your last child, not your first!
For a 90% chance of reaching the desired family size, the maximum age of the woman when you start trying is:
- 1 child: natural conception age 32, via Assisted Reproductive Technology age 35
- 2 children: natural conception age 27, ART age 31
- 3 children: natural conception age 23, ART age 28
Medical conditions affecting fertility
Endometriosis is a significant cause of infertility, because the woman partner is diagnosed with mild endometriosis in 10% of couples that have difficulty conceiving
Male factor infertility will be present in 30–50% of couples, either as the single major cause of their fertility problem or as part of a multi-factorial problem with both male and female factors being present
It is often not until the results of the semen analysis are revealed that the man learns that there is an issue with his sperm
Lifestyle changes can reduce the impact that medical conditions have on your fertility
Women should seek help for: pain during sex; taking time off work due to period pain; Intermittent pain or spotting/bleeding at ovulation or throughout the cycle; very heavy menstruation; cycles shorter than 3 weeks or longer than 5 weeks; no periods at all; unwanted hair growth; jawline acne; family history of menopause before the page of 50
Men should seek help for: abnormal shape and size of testicles / anatomical problem; previous genital surgery; significant STD infections in the past
When to seek help
Women – seek help straight away for any of the following:
- irregular cycles (short or long)
- getting periods less than 10 days after ovulation occurs
- severe pain with menstruation or intermittent pain throughout the cycle
- regular breakthrough bleeding throughout cycle
- any unusual discharge (yellow/green, lumpy white, smelly)
- previous sexually transmitted infections, such as Chlamydia
- a history of early menopause (before age 50) in the family
Men – seek help straight away for any of the following:
- previous genital surgery, including for an undescended testicle
- previous inguinal hernia repair
- previous significant infections such as Chlamydia or Mumps Orchitis
For a couple:
- When you have been trying to conceive for longer than 12 months. You can see your GP first who may be able to refer you for a funded consultation or you can book a private appointment directly with a fertility specialist. The first step is likely to include blood tests to check ovulation and a semen analysis, which your GP can conduct.
- If the woman is over 35 years, see your doctor after trying to conceive for 9 months
- If the woman is over 40 years, see your doctor after trying to conceive for 6 months
Your GP can organise further testing and may be able to refer you for a funded consultation with a fertility specialist.
Chelsea's story
Chelsea's story of PCOS, Endometriosis, and her determination to lower her BMI and get on the waitlist for publicly funded fertility treatment
Charlotte's story
My fertility journey has been one I never expected to experience.
Kathryn's story
Kathryn shares her journey on how she let go of her baby dream and now lives child-free
Making Babies DIY Webinars
Join us here for this free-of-charge webinar. There will be presentation live on screen, followed by Q&A. Bring your questions, ready to type into the box! View the full Webinar schedule here
Timing of Sex: what you need to know
Identifying ovulation is the most important knowledge you can have when trying to conceive
85% of NZ women cannot identify the fertile window
The best time to attempt conception is when a woman’s cervical mucus is wet, slippery and of egg white consistency, usually over a 2–3-day period immediately before ovulation
Timing of sex relative to ovulation is vital
As sperm can live for up to 3–5 days in good quality mucus it is best to try and have intercourse in the 2–3 days preceding and on the day of egg release (ovulation)
Couples who have intercourse every one to three days around the time of ovulation do not need to time intercourse specifically
Other tools such as temperature recording and ovulation kits can be of some use, but use with caution as they identify ovulation, and the ideal time for conception is prior to ovulation – when they give it a positive result, the fertile window is nearly over
Don’t save sperm - fresh sperm is better than aged. Ejaculation at least every three days is recommended
Lifestyle
Good preconception health can improve chances of conception, a healthy pregnancy and healthy child
Maturation of the sperm and egg takes 3–4 months, therefore preconception health should be in place for this long
Recent studies report a world-wide decline in sperm number and quality over the past 50 years, although this seems to have leveled off in NZ over the past 15-20 years
Men and women should follow a healthy, balanced diet – a Mediterranean-style diet has been shown to be ideal for fertility
Avoid (or reduce) alcohol and caffeine consumption
Women should supplement with folic acid and iodine - most women need a folic acid supplement to achieve the levels known to reduce the chance of gross abnormalities such as spina bifida
Avoid recreational drugs and nicotine
Exercise extreme caution when self-prescribing any medication or fertility device
Maintain a healthy weight
These factors are equally important for women and men
Moderate exercise – too much or too little can be detrimental to your fertility
Men should avoid increased testicular heat
Avoid environmental toxicity as far as possible – in your home and work
Proactively manage stress and prioritise self-care
These lifestyle factors can also impact success of IVF
Nutrients for fertility
Learn about important nutrients for men's and women's fertility on this page