5 Fantastic Facts About Female Fertility

The basics of reproduction and sexual health tend to be taught in schools around the time of puberty, but since fertility remains a fairly taboo subject, many of us still have much more to learn. Many couples are able to conceive a child with limited problems, but others face complications that make the route to pregnancy a more difficult journey. With that said, it’s important that we understand as much as possible about fertility and how to increase our chances of conceiving a healthy baby, even if it’s not something we necessarily want right now. Here are five fantastic facts to get you started:

1. Ovulation is the Best Time to Try and Conceive
Women ovulate around 10-16 days before their period, so if you have a regular cycle, you should be able to determine the best time to try and conceive. There are other indicators that you might be ovulating, such as clearer and more slippery cervical mucus, tender breasts and stomach-ache. If necessary, you could use an ovulation test.

2. Oily Fish Can Boost Your Fertility
Salmon and mackerel are examples of oily fish that can help boost your fertility, because they are a great source of essential fatty acids and omega 3. This plays an important role in regulating the reproductive cycle. Other foods to add to your diet if you want to conceive are things like eggs, garlic and full fat dairy.

3. A Female Baby is Born with All the Eggs They’ll Ever Have
Around 1-2 million to be exact! Some people wrongly assume that a woman only loses one egg during their menstrual cycle, but actually roughly 3-5 thousand eggs are lost. Eventually, a woman will run out of eggs, but egg freezing could be an option if you would like to preserve your fertility and have a baby later in life.

4. Smoking During Pregnancy Can Affect the Unborn Child’s Fertility
It’s no secret that smoking and drinking during pregnancy is a hard no. Smoking while pregnant can lead to preterm birth, defects of the mouth and lip and low birth weight, but it can also harm the baby’s chance of conceiving when they’re older.

5. Excessive Exercise Can Impact Fertility
If a woman exercises too vigorously, they may affect their menstrual cycle or stop it completely, which obviously makes it difficult or impossible to conceive. If you’re hoping to become pregnant, it’s better to stick to mild exercise, such as walking or yoga.

*Collaborative Post