Five Facts about Fertility and Infertility

Guest post by Paula Schuck

I often write about infertility and adoption over on my blog Thrifty Momma’s Tips. I community manage a couple of patient groups for infertility patients in Canada. Over the last three years as a community manager for Conceivable Dreams and Generations of Hope I have learned a lot about fertility and infertility.

Unfortunately a lot of people have no idea about some basic facts that can help with planning a family. Many only learn about infertility and fertility facts when they are suddenly unable to have a child.

Here are Five Things You Might Not Know About Infertility and Fertility:

1. A female is born with all the eggs she will ever have. By the time she has her first period there are about 400,000 eggs left. By menopause very few if any are left.

2. Fertility actually begins to decline at 28 years old. Then it decreases dramatically in your mid-30s.

3. Infertility is defined as failure to conceive after one year of active trying. 1 in 6 will struggle with infertility.

4. If you are over 35 and struggling to conceive for over 3 months, you should consult a doctor, and/or ask for a fertility consult. IVF (in vitro fertilization),IU I (Intra-uterine insemination), surgery, or fertility medications might help.

5. 40 % of infertility is male factor and 40 % of infertility is female factor. The final 20 % is due to undetermined causes. Certain lifestyle changes can help male factor infertility. Avoid excessive use of hot tubs, long haul truck driving, and smoking if you are trying to conceive. A healthy body weight is also important for both partners.

If you are in Ontario and you need support follow:

http://www.twitter.com/ohip4ivf/ for news and support.

In Alberta you can follow Generations of Hope for support and news.

http://www.twitter.com/gensofhope/

You don’t have to deal with infertility on your own. If you or someone you know needs support please be sure to visit the above links for more information.