The Next Step - Starting a Family

Are you hoping to start the next chapter of your life on your wedding night? Here is some guidance from Fertility Associates to make sure you have a good level of fertility fitness.

If you have plans to start adding to the family once you've retired to the honeymoon suite, than it's a good idea you are physically and mentally prepared for the next phase of your life.

Fertility Associates are New Zealand's leading provider of fertility diagnosis, support and treatment. Their goal is to help couples build families, working with them to educate, counsel and prepare them for conception. Don't be confused though - they are not just about IVF. In fact, more than 65% of their patients undergo alternative treatments.

We turned to them for some key information on (1) understanding, (2) checking and (3) boosting your fertility. If you plan to get started building your family immediately after saying "I do", then we strongly suggest you start taking these steps early on in the wedding planning process.

UNDERSTANDING...
Let's start with some very interesting statistics.
The average couple has a 20-25% chance of conception per month.
Only 65% of couples will conceive in the first month. After 6 months, at least 75% will be pregnant, and 90% after a year.
Only 5% of couples have complete infertility.

There are a range of factors that can influence your fertility, including:
*    Age (You are your most fertile between the ages of 16 and 25.)
*    Health & Wellbeing (Click here for what to look out for in your balanced diet.)
*    Cigarettes, Alcohol, Caffeine and Drugs (It's no surprise that these substances all have a negative effect on fertility and conception.)
*    Stress (It cannot be the sole cause of infertility, but it can take its toll on a relationship, when you are frustrated by the inability to conceive.)
*    Sexually Transmitted Infections
*    Medical Conditions
*    Environmental Toxins (Research is currently being done into the effect of toxins such as lead, radiation, waste materials and pesticides on sperm count, motility and egg quality.) 

CHECKING...
In order to prepare yourself for conception, here are a few things to keep in mind:
1.    Age - The time it takes to conceive lengthens as you get older. It takes twice as long to conceive for a 35 year old women, compared to a 25 year old. By the time you are 39, it takes on average 15 months to conceive. Of course, age has little to no effect on a man until he is well over 55!
2.    Your Biological Clock - There are three tests to predict how fast your biological clock ticks. Click on the Fertility Associates' website below to find out more about these tests.
3.    Diet - Both of you should eat a well balanced diet, including fruit and vegetables, low fat varieties of dairy, meat, bread and cereals. You both should also drink at least 6 glasses of water a day!
4.    Vitamins and Minerals - Women should take extra folic acid for 1 month before getting pregnant and for the first 3 months of pregnancy. Folic acid is a B group vitamin and can be found in oranges, avocados, cabbage, broccoli, silver beet, spinach and liver, however when trying to become pregnant or pregnant you need to take additional supplements with folic acid in, such as Elevit.
5.    Body Mass Index - A healthy body mass index of between 20 and 25 will help to sustain ovulation. It's important to remember that there can be negative effects on fertility if you are overweight OR underweight.
6.    Drugs, Cigarettes and Alcohol - Time to reduce your exposure to these potentially dangerous substances!

BOOSTING...
Your lifestyle, activities and diet play a major role in your chance of conceiving. Both of you should certainly eat foods rich in antioxidants, including garlic, fruits, nuts and brightly coloured vegetables. There are also recommendations for each of you, which can be found on the Fertility Associates' website.

If you are thinking of starting a family soon after you take your big step, it's time you probably start preparing for that next step. If you want to learn more about conception and your own fertility, click here to find a Fertility Associates clinic in your area.