Fertility Information
Infertility is defined as a couple’s inability to conceive after 12 months of trying, without contraception. We don’t like the term infertility because it sounds permanent and unhealable, which is exactly what the fertility clinics want you to think. If you believe your situation is permanent, you are more likely to spend £10,000 on an IVF treatment that only has a 29% success rate – Source: HFEA.gov.uk
We prefer the term fertility issues because, in most cases your body is capable of getting pregnant, it’s just out of balance. We work with our clients to help them to rebalance and restore their entire being to a healthier state, which allows the reproductive system to do what is was naturally designed to do.
You are probably aware that 1 in 6 couples experience fertility issues, but here are some more detailed statistics:
- 15% of couples are unable to conceive after 1 year of trying, and 10% of couples still unable to conceive after 2 years. 20-37% of healthy couples under 30 are able to conceive within 3 months.
- A healthy 30-year-old woman has a 20% chance of conceiving each month, but by age 40, that drops to just 5%.
- 50% of infertility cases are the result of female factors, 30% are the result of male factors, and the remaining 20% are a combination of male and female factors or the cause is unknown.
- “Unexplained infertility” really means it’s caused by something your doctor hasn’t tested for, such as: sperm DNA fragmentation, adrenal dysfunction, autoimmune issues, thyroid dysfunction, toxins, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic infection, stress or nutrient deficiencies.
- When a couple has never previously conceived, it is known as primary infertility, and if a couple has previously conceived but is unable to now, it is known as secondary infertility.
Infertility can be a challenging, emotional and expensive journey. However, many couples overcome their fertility issues and fulfil their ambitions of becoming parents with the right information and support:
- This website provides simple and clear information that explains everything you need to know about fertility issues and how to make the best of your situation. The Free Resources section includes information on male fertility issues, female fertility issues, the monthly cycle, ovulation tracking and assisted reproductive technology.
- For those who would like additional healing and support, we can help you to improve your chances of conceiving with the most comprehensive program of Fertility Therapies anywhere in the UK.
1. Male Fertility Issues
Male fertility issues fall into two main categories:
- Sperm Production Disorders: The quality and/or quantity of sperm can be adversely affected by a hormone imbalance, varicocele (swollen veins in a testicle), genetic factors, oxidative stress, sperm DNA fragmentation, toxins, excess heat and electromagnetic radiation.
- Sperm Transport Problems: The path the sperm cells take from the testicles to ejaculation may be obstructed or malformed, e.g. obstructive azoospermia (no sperm cells in the semen) or retrograde ejaculation (semen enter the blader instead of being ejaculated).
Male fertility issues are solely responsible for 30% of all infertility cases, and share the responsibility in a further 20% of all cases. So, male fertility issues contribute to about 50% of all infertility cases, yet this isn’t always apparent, primarily due to the limitations of standard sperm tests (or semen analysis).
Standard NHS sperm tests, and even the more detailed private tests, only check the external qualities of the sperm, like count, morphology and motility. While these factors are the most common causes of male fertility issues, they aren’t the only ones. The quality of the DNA inside the sperm is also a factor in 20-40% of cases of male infertility, but sperm DNA quality (DNA fragmentation) isn’t measured in an NHS or private semen analysis. So, the standard tests can make it appear that everything is fine with the man and his sperm, when that isn’t necessarily the case!
2. Female Fertility Issues
Female fertility issues are solely responsible for 50% of all infertility cases, and share the responsibility in a further 20% of all cases. So female fertility issues contribute to about 70% of all infertility cases. Female fertility issues fall into three main categories:
- Ovulatory Disorders: Something prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg, e.g. polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) dysfunction, i.e. stress or adrenal fatigue.
- Structural Abnormalities: Endometriosis, fibroids and fallopian tube blockages can physically hinder sperm transit up through the uterus and fallopian tubes, and egg transit down again.
- Age: Female fertility decreases with age, particularly in the late thirties, because the quality and quantity of eggs both decline.
The following factors can help to improve your egg quality, hormone balance, cycle regularity and fertility in general: A healthy diet, fertility supplements, regular moderate exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, managing stress, moderating alcohol and caffeine consumption, quitting smoking or vaping, reducing your exposure to toxins, and developing a healthier relationship with your body and reproductive organs. But the chances are, you have already tried many of them, and they haven’t worked for you. If that’s the case, please click the button to Discover More.
3. Understanding Your Monthly Cycle
Understanding your monthly cycle empowers you to take an active role in optimising your fertility and chances of conception. It is a complex, regulated series of events (described above) that prepares your reproductive system for the possibility of pregnancy.
The menstrual cycle is complex and controlled by many different glands and the hormones produced by these glands. It is an incredibly sensitive, sacred and beautiful system, which responds to our thoughts, emotions and environment. A single deeply-held belief can impact your entire system… it really is that powerful. For successful conception, it’s imperative to have a solid understanding of your menstrual cycle, and a good place to start is by tracking your ovulation.
4. Ovulation Tracking
When you’re trying to get pregnant, it is essential to understand the stages of your monthly cycle, because it can help you to identify the days that you’re most likely to conceive. You’re at your most fertile on the day of ovulation and a few days before, because sperm can survive about 5 days in the uterus and fallopian tubes.
There are a number of completely natural ways to keep track of your ovulation in order to determine the best days to have sex. These include tracking your menstrual cycle to calculate when you are most likely to ovulate, charting your basal body temperature (BBT), and monitoring changes in your cervical mucus. For best results, it’s helpful to use a combination of these. The above methods are effective if your cycle is regular, but if your cycle is erratic, using ovulation test strips is a more reliable option.
5. Fertility Testing
Fertility testing involves a series of diagnostic tests and assessments to determine an individual or couple’s reproductive health and ability to conceive. The tests provide insights into various factors that may impact fertility, and help to identify any underlying issues that could be addressed to improve the chances of achieving pregnancy. Fertility testing may include the following : Blood Hormone Tests, Semen Analysis, Sperm DNA Testing, Ovulation Monitoring, Pelvic Ultrasound, Hysterosalpingography (HSG), Endometrial Biopsy, Ovarian Reserve Testing, Genetic Testing and Infectious Disease Testing.
The specific tests depend on individual circumstances, such as age, medical history, and the duration of attempts to conceive. The results of fertility testing help doctors to develop treatment plans to address the identified issues and optimise the chances of successful conception.
6. Assisted Reproductive Technology
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) refers to medical procedures or interventions that help individuals or couples to get pregnant when traditional methods have not been successful. ART involves the manipulation of eggs and/or sperm, often in a laboratory setting, to facilitate fertilisation, implantation, and ultimately, the development of a pregnancy. Common forms of ART include: In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT), Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT), Donor Eggs or Sperm, Surrogacy and Embryo Cryopreservation (Freezing).
ART has revolutionised reproductive medicine and offers hope for those with fertility issues. However, people are often directed down the IVF path before exploring other options. IVF is very expensive, it has a 71% failure rate (according to HFEA.gov.uk) and the invasive nature of examinations, tests, medications and procedures often take their toll, physically and psychologically. So please read up about it, but remember that other more natural options are available.
