Factors which can affect Conception

Factors which can affect Conception

Factors that Influence Conception

Age

  • Age is one of the most significant factors affecting conception.
  • Generally, a woman’s fertility starts to decline in her early 30s, with a more noticeable drop after the age of 35.
  • Men’s fertility also declines with age, but at a slower pace, typically starting in their 40s.

Overall Health

  • A person’s overall health, including weight, influences their chance of conception.
  • Underweight or overweight conditions can impede conception by causing hormonal imbalances that affect ovulation.
  • Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) also hinder conception.

Lifestyle Choices

  • Lifestyle choices like smoking, alcohol and drug use negatively affect fertility in both men and women.
  • Regular, moderate exercise and a diet rich in folic acid, vitamin C and iron contribute to both male and female fertility.
  • Chronic stress can also interfere with hormones needed for ovulation and sperm production.

Sexual Activity

  • Conception is most likely to happen during the fertile window, the 6 days ending on the day of ovulation.
  • Engaging in regular sexual intercourse increases the chances of sperm being present when an egg is released.
  • Use of lubricants can impact sperm motility, so it’s advisable to use fertility-friendly brands if necessary.

Environmental Factors

  • Toxic environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides or radiation, can affect sperm quality, ovulation, or implantation of the fertilised egg.
  • Shift work or other factors leading to disturbed sleep can disrupt normal hormonal rhythms, potentially affecting fertility.

Reproductive Assistance

  • Medical interventions are available to assist with conception, such as fertility drugs, intrauterine insemination (IUI), and in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
  • Access to and success of these interventions can depend on factors like age, health, and the cause of fertility problems.
  • Fertility treatment options may raise ethical and emotional issues, and are not guaranteed to result in conception.