15 fertility facts you need to know

Are you thinking about starting a family? 

If you’re planning on having a baby, now is a great time to arm yourself with all the information you need to have the best chance of conceiving. 

With all the different advice circulating, we know it can feel overwhelming and a little confusing when trying to fall pregnant. But don’t worry, the team at Grace is here to help. 

At Grace Private we have a multidisciplinary team of women’s health specialists including obstetricians, midwives, gynaecologists, physiotherapists, dieticians and psychologists that can all play a part in your conception journey. 

Know the facts

Our team of specialists are passionate about sharing all the information you need to help you conceive and we want to help you separate truth from myth.

Here are 15 fertility facts you need to know.

1. Timing is everything – The best time to conceive is when you’re ovulating, which usually occurs between days 11 and 21 of your menstrual cycle. You have a greater chance of falling pregnant if you have sex during ovulation or two days prior.
2. Women are born with approximately one to two million eggs – But a woman will only release up to around 500 eggs in her lifetime.
3. Sperm has a longer life – Sperm can live for up to 5 days, whereas an egg can only be fertilised for approximately 24 hours after being released from the ovary.
4. Temperature can affect sperm – Excessive use of hot tubs and prolonged heat can affect a man’s sperm count.
5. Having sex every day is not necessary – Despite what you may think, having sex every day doesn’t necessarily increase your chance of falling pregnant and affect a man’s sperm quality. It’s best to have sex every other day around ovulation.
6. Some lubricants affect the chance of getting pregnant – Some lubricants aren’t fertility friendly and can affect the quality of the sperm.
7. Fertility age – A woman’s fertility starts to reduce in the early 30s, more after the age of 35.
8. Men do have a biological clock – Generally, men’s fertility starts to decrease between 40 to 45 years of age.
9. Your family tree can affect your fertility – Your genetic history will play a role in your fertility and should be considered when you’re trying to conceive.
10. Smoking affects your chance of falling pregnant – Smoking cigarettes and even second-hand smoke can affect both men and women’s fertility.
11. Alcohol and drugs reduce fertility – The use of alcohol and other drugs can reduce fertility in both men and women. Some medication should also be avoided when you’re trying to conceive.
12. Weight affects fertility – When you are severely overweight, or underweight, you may have less of a chance of falling pregnant or having a healthy pregnancy. Both can affect your hormones and affect your chances of conceiving.
13. STIs can affect your ability to fall pregnant – Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, genital herpes, syphilis and HIV need to be checked and treated if possible, as they may affect your pregnancy or your baby when it’s delivered.
14. Keeping a healthy diet and exercising is known to improve fertility – For both men and women, eating a balanced, healthy diet and exercising can improve your chances of conceiving.
15. Up to one in every six Australian couples has issues with a delay in conception – It’s best to seek medical advice if you’ve been trying to fall pregnant for more than 12 months, or six months if you are over 35 years of age.

If you’re still finding it difficult to fall pregnant even when you’re equipped with all this knowledge, ‘ask for Grace’ at your next doctor’s appointment and book in to speak to one of our fertility specialists, Dr Tina Fleming or Dr Tania Widmer. They’ve helped couples of all ages and backgrounds fall pregnant and realise their dream of starting a family.