For those in their 30s, knowing the facts around where you stand on your fertility journey will help you make decisions. Repromed Medical Director, Dr Devashana Gupta, shares information for those who may be wanting to start a family, with some tips about where to start.
It helps to understand some biological facts about eggs. You are born with your lifetime supply of eggs, around one million to two million at birth. There are a fixed number of eggs and therefore a limited fertile period, when conception is possible. Each month, about a dozen eggs begin to grow, but only one or two of them reach full maturity and are released during ovulation.
For most people who lead a normal, healthy lifestyle, this process continues like clockwork until most eggs have almost depleted, which then kick starts the menopausal phase.
Because of this attrition process, it does become harder to get pregnant naturally from the mid-30s. Fertility declines as we age because older eggs are more susceptible to errors in the egg maturation process, resulting in a higher chance of either miscarriage, or abnormalities. The good news is that it does just take just one ovulated normal egg to make a healthy baby.
While there is nothing we can do to increase the quantity of eggs, there are things we can do to possibly maximise the quality of eggs. To boost the chances of conceiving naturally, a healthy, low-stress lifestyle is a great place to start. Tips include reducing your alcohol and caffeine intake, focusing on getting your weight in a healthy range, quitting smoking, choosing nutritious, antioxidant rich food, and getting regular exercise. There are lots of references on the Repromed website with tips about nutrition and your fertility.
Everyone is unique, but if you are in your 30s and haven’t naturally conceived after trying for 12 months, seeking an opinion from a fertility specialist is the best advice.
Your GP can refer you, or you can book a private consultation directly with Repromed at our Remuera clinic. No referral is required, and an initial consultation might answer a lot of your questions.
One of the first steps we do is check egg reserve levels. An AMH test measures the hormone produced in the follicles of the ovaries. Testing the levels of AMH via a simple blood test can give us a picture of overall fertility, based on the number of eggs developing at one time.
For the best chance of having children, if you want a family, and are in a position to start trying to conceive, our doctors will likely advise not to delay. In the case of fertility, it’s best to start the process sooner rather than later to give yourself the best shot.
Our clinic is here to help you achieve your dream of having a baby and answer any queries you may have. We offer ‘fertility excellence with heart’ and are passionate about offering genuine fertility care that is highly personalised to suit your needs and personal values. Everyone is welcome.
If you’re interested in discussing your fertility, new clients can book a free 15-minute phone consultation with a Repromed fertility doctor. Phone 0800 483 105 or email info@repromed.co.nz.
See more at repromed.co.nz.
