Everything You Need To Know About Fertility

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Motherhood can be extremely overwhelming when embraced for the first time. Amidst our busy schedule and career-oriented lifestyles, we often lose track of our biological clock until it’s too late. Later, we are left with nothing but regret. Even if you plan to prioritize your career and other commitments before conceiving, you should have a definite layout of what to expect and how to deal with any hurdle. 11.5% of black women report infertility compared to 7% of white women. However, studies indicate that black women use infertility services less often. Why? Please keep reading this article if you want a concise, informative overview of fertility.

What is fertility?

Most people have the vague perception that the term fertility is solely attributed to females. However, fertility is the ability to conceive a child which is equally applicable to both the partners. So, for how long shall you try before being declared as infertile? According to WHO, https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/infertility/definitions/en/, infertility is the inability to conceive within one year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.

Know it’s physiology

Knowledge is powerful. Having a clear, concept about the natural phenomena of pregnancy would allow you the leverage to improve fertility. Perhaps the first time you visit your doctor, they would be discussing the same. So, here it is:

Monthly episodes of hormonal peaks and lows happen in every healthy female of child-bearing age (usually 15-45 years). This results in ovulation- the release of one mature egg from the female reproductive gonads (ovaries). You cannot get pregnant if you are not ovulating.
The released egg is guided into fallopian tube and waits for the arrival of sperm for up to 3-4 days.
Meanwhile, a male’s reproductive system should be producing healthy, motile sperm in the testis (male gonads). In males, healthy sperm cells are generated daily after puberty (phase of life when you become sexually competent).
When the male partner ejaculates, millions of sperms travel out of the testis to vas deferens and gets mixed with nourishing and lubricating fluids which are secreted from prostate and seminal vesicles. At the end of ejaculation, this mixture of fluid is forced out of the penis.
During sex, the ejaculatory fluids are deposited high up in the vagina, close to the cervical area (lower opening end of the uterus).
Now, with the aid of uterine muscular contractions, millions of sperm cells swim their way up into the uterus and the connecting fallopian tubes.
Only one of the healthiest sperm reach up to the fallopian tube and fuses with the egg to produce a zygote (your baby!).
Now, this zygote undergoes series of cell divisions to produce an embryo, a larger cell. While these divisions are occurring, the embryo travels from the fallopian tube to the uterine lining.

Use the link for a brief explanation of fertilization: https://youtu.be/vFfqLs94iHc

Your womb prepares itself to celebrate the arrival of your baby

Every month, your uterus (womb in simpler terms) prepares itself to provide the perfect environment for the arrival of your baby. Due to the hormonal cascade, some changes occur following ovulation which thickens the uterine lining and waits for the arrival of the fertilized zygote from the fallopian tubes. The embryo implants itself into the lining and development commences.

Excel your period math!

Even though getting pregnant is entirely based on the meeting of the egg and sperm, there are certain factors that you can do to increase its likelihood.

You would be surprised to know that many women who try to get pregnant know their ovulation day. Usually, ovulation occurs between 11th and 21st day of the menstruation cycle; with day 1 is when you got your period. However, it can vary from woman to woman. Some might have it on day 7 while others are as late as day 22. You should observe for ovulation signs and symptoms to track down your ovulation day. Optimizing the number of times you have sex within the fertile window, enhances your chance at getting pregnant. Fertile window lasts between 5 to 8 days. This is 3-4 days before ovulation and 1-2 days after ovulation. Performing sexual intercourse frequently within this time, undoubtedly, increase your chance of being pregnant. According to https://www.verywellfamily.com/fertility-4014725, the chance of conceiving is between 21% to 34% 1 day before your ovulation whereas it is between 8% to 17% on 4 days before ovulation.

Clinical features of ovulation

Cyclical bleeding
Ovulation pain
Ovulatory discharge
Premenstrual breast tenderness
Increase in body temperature ( so maintain body basal temperature chart)
Change in the quality and quantity of cervical mucus
Increase sexual desire

What can I do, if my periods are irregular?

Well, either you can check your cervical mucus as your ovulation approaches or you can also use the ovulation predictor strip tests for reliable results. Now, you might have already understood the importance of ovulation.

Drugs that can cause ovulation

One of the most used methods by couples, who live in different cities or countries and cannot be together during the fertile period, is the use of ovulation-inducing medication.

According to https://www.conceiveeasy.com/get-pregnant/what-is-the-best-fertility-drug-to-get-pregnant/, Clomiphene is one of the best drugs to improve fertility.

Common concerns of infertility among young black women

This website provides detailed information on fertility issues among black women https://www.spermcheck.com/infertility-and-minority-women/. According to this, the most common cause is a uterine fibroid, but the main reason behind its increased incidence in black women, as opposed to white women, is unknown. The ultimate treatment for fibroid is hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). According to Dr. McCathy-Keith, the incidence of uterine fibroids in black women is 80% at the end of reproductive years and hence common diagnosis among black women undergoing infertility treatments is a fibroid.

Boost your fertility

I can understand how daunting and exhausting those fertility treatments can get when you are planning a family. Hence, we should never ignore the profound effects of lifestyle modifications on fertility. Moreover, this website https://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/fertility/boost/ways-to-boost-your-fertility/?slideId=slide_0b262ac3-d1ce-46fe-9785-94b95560bc35#slide_0b262ac3-d1ce-46fe-9785-94b95560bc35 shares the most effective ways to boost fertility.

A healthy diet and healthy immunity are the prime requirements when you want to nourish life within you.
Avoidance of junk food and maintenance of ideal weight according to your BMI(Body Mass Index)
Say no to alcohol, tobacco, and be extra cautious about the drugs you are taking.
Exercise adequately and practice mind-body meditations.

When to seek medical advice

You should have regular unprotected sex for at least 1 year before seeking medical advice.

Nonetheless, if you experience the following clinical features, you should book your doctor’s appointment. Following data are obtained from https://www.verywellfamily.com/symptoms-of-infertility-1960282.

Irregular menstrual cycles.
Slight or heavy periods
Excessive pain during a period or sexual intercourse.
Unexplained vaginal bleeding
Sexual dysfunction.

How can you evaluate your fertility?

The foremost and cheapest step would be to test your partner’s sperm count through semen analysis. This is a non-invasive procedure which detects abnormalities in sperm count, motility, quality or presence of any materials that are hindering sperm-egg meeting.

If the semen analysis report appears to be normal, then there are a series of tests that could be done to evaluate female fertility.

STI screening– this a blood test aimed at detecting sexually transmitted diseases. This is directed for both the partners.
Evidence of ovulation – a) Cervical mucus test

b) Estimation of hormone levels responsible for ovulation
c) Endometrial biopsy and ultrasound

3) Procedures to detect uterine condition– Hysteroscopy, Hysterosalpingography (X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes) and laparoscopy.

Conclusion

Fertility is at its peak between the mid-20s and gradually reduces with age. Chances are greatly reduced after 35 years of age. You should consult your doctor and plan a layout of your family planning expectations. Remember, you don’t have to do everything listed in this article. Just pick some that might work the best for you. No-one knows your body better than you. After all, motherhood is a relishing moment of joy.