Female fertility refers to a woman’s ability to become pregnant. Ovulation is a phase in the female menstrual cycle when a mature ovum is released from the ovaries. If you are trying to get pregnant, it is important to attempt sexual intercourse during ovulation to increase your chances of conceiving a child. You can determine if you are ovulating by tracking your basal body temperature or using an ovulation home testing kit. You may also notice physical symptoms such as clear, sticky cervical discharge, enlarged breasts and slight pain or cramping on one side of your stomach during your ovulation phase. Female fertility decreases with age. It is crucial to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body weight to preserve fertility.
Are you trying to have a baby? You might be wondering if there’s anything you can do to prepare your body to conceive. You may be taking your fertility seriously for the first time in your life, something you’ve never had to think about before. If so, here’s a first-timer’s guide to understanding female fertility. Female fertility is a complex subject. It is influenced by so many factors, like age, body composition, lifestyle etc. In this article, we’ll break down some of these nuanced ideas in a way that’s easy for you to understand, and give you some tips on how you can prime your body for a healthy pregnancy.
Female fertility is basically a woman’s ability to get pregnant. A pregnancy occurs when a mature ovum (also called an egg cell), is fertilised by a sperm cell to create an embryo. In nature, this occurs through the process of sexual intercourse. The embryo then attaches to the walls of the mother’s uterus and grows into a foetus. For this entire process to go on smoothly, the timing of the intercourse, the health of the ovum and sperm, and the health of the mother’s uterus are all crucial.
Ovulation is the phase of the female menstrual cycle when a mature ovum is released from one of the woman’s ovaries. It usually occurs about 2 weeks before the start of menstruation. If sexual intercourse occurs outside of the ovulation phase, there is no chance of a pregnancy. So if you are trying to get pregnant, it is important to know exactly when you are ovulating. There are a few different ways you can track this:
Age is a key factor to consider when discussing female fertility. For decades, it has been believed that 35 years is the age where women’s fertility declines sharply. The reality, according to experts is a little more nuanced. Female fertility declines gradually with age. The rate of decline in egg production and egg quality also varies from person to person. In general, in the mid- to late-30s, a woman’s chance of normal pregnancy decreases. Women who become pregnant in their mid- to late-30s have “geriatric pregnancies” and face more health problems during their pregnancy and labour. The chances of a woman above 35 becoming pregnant decreases even more if her partner is above 40 years of age.
Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and exercising are the pillars of good health. It is no surprise that these lifestyle factors also influence female fertility. Being overweight, as well as being underweight, are both causes of female infertility. Overweight women tend to develop insulin resistance, causing the body to release more insulin. This halts ovulation. In women who chronically eat less and go on punishing diets to stay thin, the body shuts down ovulation in an attempt to conserve resources.
What you eat affects every aspect of your health. Eating full-fat dairy and adequate protein is associated with a healthy female reproductive system. Dark leafy greens are also known to improve ovulation. It is recommended to minimise consumption of sugar and other simple carbohydrates. Multivitamins and pre-natal vitamins are also important to maintain a healthy hormonal cycle and for good egg development. Studies also show that women with iron deficiencies have difficulty in becoming pregnant. Moderate exercise (upto 1 hour a day) is known to be good for female fertility, but extreme exercise can have the opposite effect.
If you have more questions about female fertility or need personalized advice, consult with the expert gynaecologists at Kauvery Hospital. With branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, our dedicated team is here to support you on your journey to parenthood.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.
Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 • Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801
