Planning a Pregnancy

Understanding Fertility

Ovulation

Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from an ovary during the menstrual cycle. Ovulation dates vary widely from woman to woman and from month to month. You may need to use one or more methods to pinpoint your ovulation day. You may feel a brief period of sharp pain on one side of the lower abdomen (the side where the egg was released) when you ovulate. An increase in vaginal discharge or slight spotting may also occur near the time of ovulation. To estimate when your ovulation occurs, you can record your temperature, examine your vaginal mucus discharge, and track your menstrual periods. You can also buy urine test strips that help estimate when ovulation occurs.

Fertility

There are about 5 days each month when you are able to become pregnant, around the days when ovulation occurs. Fertility awareness is not the best method of birth control to prevent a pregnancy – 25 out of 100 women who typically use fertility awareness have an unintended pregnancy, but this method can be very helpful to time when to have sex if you want to become pregnant.

The amount of time it takes for full fertility to return after stopping birth control varies and depends on the birth control method your are using. Poor health and irregular periods may decrease your fertility. Other things, such as alcohol, tobacco, obesity and stress can affect your fertility too. For example, tobacco smoking has been connected to low sperm counts, abnormal sperm, menstrual disorders, spontaneous abortions, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), infertility, and other conditions.

If you want to understand your fertility better, begin by keeping track of your menstrual periods, and talk to your health care provider. To know how long your cycles are, track the number of days on a calendar for 2 or 3 months or cycles. Your menstrual cycle begins with the day your period starts and ends the day before your next period starts.

To find out when you are most fertile, or when you are most likely to become pregnant, use the HealthLink BC interactive tool: When Are You Most Fertile?

Infertility

Infertility is the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex. After one year of unprotected sex, an estimated 85 percent of women will become pregnant. This number rises to 95 percent after two years. The probability of conception decreases with age. Female fertility begins to decline many years before the start of menopause and becomes more pronounced after age 37. It is important to remember that dealing with infertility can be extremely difficult for women, their partners, and their relationships. Reaching out for support from counsellors, health care providers, friends, and support groups can be very helpful.

Women who need assisted conception techniques have many options available to them. These are always changing as new techniques become available. Search out the latest information before making a decision. As with any treatment, carefully consider the risks and benefits for yourself and your family. The term ‘assisted conception’ refers to any situation where there is medical assistance with the conception process. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) involve helping gametes (eggs or sperm) come together in larger numbers to increase the chance of fertilization.

For more information, see the HealthLink BC file Fertility Problems.

Pregnancy after Age 35

If at all possible, do not delay childbearing into your late 30s because the likelihood of conception decreases with age. Female fertility begins to decrease many years before the start of menopause, especially after age 37.

Pregnant women over 35 are considered to be of advanced age. There are some risks to having a pregnancy after age 35, such as:

  • Increased risk of having a baby with a disease or condition that is inherited. Because it is carried through the genes, this is known as a genetic abnormality.
  • Greater chance of complications with the pregnancy. Examples are diabetes, high blood pressure, and caesarean birth.
  • Increased risk of miscarriage.

However, age is less important than:

  • a woman’s health
  • nutrition
  • lifestyle
  • medical and family history
  • having good medical care

If you wonder about your chances of having a healthy baby, talk to your health care provider about prenatal genetic screening, or ask your health care provider about genetic counselling.

For more information about genetic screening, click here.