Conception isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. While the majority of couples will fall pregnant within a year of trying, around 1 in 7 experience difficulty. There are a range of reasons as to why this is, such as ovulation issues, blocked fallopian tubes, age, issues with sperm, lack of a male partner and unexplained infertility. There are various treatment options that can help improve your chances, such as IVF (In vitro fertilisation).
When To Start Thinking About IVF
For some, infertility is categorised as being unable to conceive after a year of trying. If you have reached this point and would like help, we’d recommend fertility testing and evaluation as a first step to understand the sort of issues that you are dealing with. Based on the findings, there may be things you can do yourself to improve your chances, such as consuming a healthier diet, cutting back on unhealthy habits such as smoking and weight management etc. If you have already explored these options or require further intervention, fertility treatments such as IVF can help. There are others less invasive fertility treatments that we’d recommend if they are appropriate such as ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination.
Age
Another main reason for IVF is declining fertility reserves. A woman’s fertility potential is affected by the biological clock. This usually doesn’t have much effect before the age of 35 to 37 but thereafter it declines rapidly. Once you reach this age, and if you haven’t conceived naturally, it is worth seeking professional advice because having IVF soon usually results in a much higher chance of a baby than leaving it for a year or more whilst your chances plummet. Advancing male age also affects fertility potential but to a much lower degree.
Financial Means
Although highly effective, IVF is an expensive procedure, and several cycles are often needed, so you will need to make sure that you are in a financially stable position before starting treatment.
Preparation
For the best chances of success both individuals should commit to a healthy lifestyle. A good time to start IVF is therefore when you are at a healthy weight, have a good diet and exercise regimen in place, and have cut down on harmful habits such as smoking and drinking. We will not insist on this but it does improve your own chances of a successful pregnancy if you can follow these recommendations.
There is no official rule on when to start IVF and it depends on your circumstances and preferences. To learn about factors affecting your fertility and start IVF, get in touch with a member of our expert team.