How should we take care of fertility?

June is World Fertility Month and Dr. Elena Santiago, from Clinica Tambre, explains how we should take care of it: which habits are recommendable and which are harmful. She also explains the different important factors to evaluate and the recommended time to see a specialist.

Health, the key to fertility

Fertility depends on our general state of health and, therefore, it can be harmed by bad eating habits, exposure to toxins and certain diseases and medical treatments.

In order to take care of our fertility, we recommend a healthy lifestyle, avoiding toxins such as tobacco or alcohol, regular physical exercise and a healthy and balanced diet. Intimate hygiene and sexual intercourse with a condom (until the moment pregnancy is desired) are also important to avoid sexually transmitted infections that may affect fertility in the future.

What factors should be taken into account?

The human body is designed to reproduce for a specific period of time, and this is determined by a woman’s reproductive age. The most fertile time is between the ages of 20 and 35, regardless of whether the menstrual period arrives at puberty and menopause does not occur until after the age of 45.

There are biological factors that can hinder conception, such as: the advanced age of women, overweight and obesity, premature ovarian failure or poor seminal quality. In other cases there may be diseases that reduce the chances of pregnancy, such as endometriosis, infections of the male or female genital tract and cancers that require treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

When is it advisable to see a specialist?

When the woman is less than 35 years old and the couple has been trying to get pregnant for a year, it is advisable to visit a specialist in assisted reproduction for a basic study. It is recommended to visit after 6 months when the woman is over 35 years old or when there is already a known cause that hinders infertility such as endometriosis or alterations in the menstrual cycle of women.

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In cases where there is already a known cause of infertility such as a history of cancer or previous surgery, it is recommended to go directly without further delay. The basic study consists of blood tests for both members of the couple. The man will undergo a seminogram to study the quality of the semen, assessing the quantity, mobility and morphology of the spermatozoa. The woman will normally undergo a hormonal study and an ultrasound to evaluate the ovarian reserve. With the results, different reproductive treatment alternatives can be offered, which will help us to increase the chances of pregnancy.

Is it possible to know the level of fertility?

The reproductive capacity can be measured with the seminogram in males and if this is very altered, there is the possibility of performing more specific tests that evaluate genetic factors. In women, age and ovarian reserve are the most important tools to measure the level of fertility. The number and quality of eggs will decrease with the passage of time.

Quantitatively, the reserve can be assessed with an ultrasound in the first days of the cycle to count the follicles present in the ovaries. On the same day, the Antimullerian Hormone blood test is performed to have a complete assessment of the woman’s reserve.

At Clinica Tambre we perform the determination of the Antimullerian Hormone completely free of charge to all patients who come for an ultrasound to assess their reserve.