So many factors come into play when couples try to conceive. For some, having a baby is fundamental to a happy relationship. But difficulty in falling pregnant can be seen as a failure. The truth is the majority of embryos we make do not have the ability to become a healthy baby.

‘The biggest single cause of infertility is not underlying pathology but a limited chance of conception,' fertility expert Dr Richard Fisher says. ‘Some women do have medical reasons they can't conceive, but the biggest problem is that they're running out of time.'

Fertile ground

Women have a mistaken idea about their biological clocks. In an Australian Family Planning survey, women aged 35 to 55 knew fertility decreased with age but many believed at 40 to 45 they still had a 62 per cent chance of pregnancy if they had a regular cycle. Likewise, many Kiwi women are unaware that at 45 years the chance of pregnancy is one per cent.

 

Here's what's needed to fall pregnant:

Healthy sperm from the man and healthy eggs from the woman.

No physical barriers in the Fallopian tubes to block the sperm's access to the egg.

Strong sperm action to penetrate the egg.

A healthy embryo that can implant into the uterus.

 

In your 30s

‘It takes about twice as long to conceive at 35 than it does at 25, but most women aged 35 will succeed,' Dr Fisher says. ‘At 35 you have an 18 per cent chance of conceiving per month. At 37 it's 14 per cent, at 40 it's 10 per cent and at 45 it's dropped to one per cent. However, some women will have higher or lower chances than the average. ‘Some women start at 40 and won't conceive even though there's nothing wrong with them.'

 

Factors that can affect fertility include:

A decline in sexual activity.

The sperm count decreases with age and the sperm becomes less robust.

Rapid changes to the energy-producing mitochondria within the eggs means they break down and reduce the eggs' use-by date.

Chlamydia may have closed the Fallopian tubes so the sperm and egg can't meet.

Endometriosis, which affects about five to 10 per cent of women, is characterised by the womb lining growing somewhere other than on the lining of the uterus. This can get in the way of fertilisation.

Sometimes infertility is unexplained. If you've been trying to get pregnant for 12 months (or six if you're 35-plus), consider assisted conception.

 

Family planning

Couples should plan their conception strategy six months in advance. Here's how:

Control your weight A waist measurement of 80cm or more means you've got tummy fat, which is associated with decreased fertility. Your baby would face more risks from high blood pressure. And being underweight can also make you less fertile. Women with a BMI of less than 19 often don't ovulate.

Try to relax

Stress can upset the hormonal flow and prevent ovulation, so try to avoid anxious situations and adopt stress-busting techniques.

Get proper nutrition Eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, cereals and grains - these are all low-GI foods that let glucose flow gently to the bloodstream and don't overwhelm insulin.

Opt for lean red meat instead of processed foods.

Take a multivitamin designed for conception. One containing 500 micrograms of folate, the B-group vitamin, lowers the risk of spina bifida or neural tube defect. Folate is also available in green leafy vegies, oranges and breakfast cereals.

An iodine dose of 100 micrograms a day aids in the proper growth of the baby's brain. Also, take vitamin D for normal development.

Quit smoking It reduces fertility, and during pregnancy it raises the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, pre-term birth and low birth weight.

Exercise Walk for 30 minutes a day.

 

Do it Sex every second day midway through the cycle increases your odds. Women mostly ovulate once a cycle, the most likely time to conceive being 14 days before your next period. Fast fact

A woman's eggs start developing when she is a foetus. Twenty weeks before birth there are seven million immature egg cells in her ovaries, but from then on no more will develop. By her first period she will have 400,000 egg cells remaining, and about one per cycle will mature into an egg.

 

What about your bloke?

It takes two to tango - the male side of the equation accounts for about 40 per cent of infertility cases. Here's how your man can protect his fertility:

Quit smoking Not only will smoking reduce the power of his sperm to do the job, the habit will affect your chance of conceiving as well.

Avoid distress Emotional upset can cause hormonal changes in the body, which
can lead to fertility problems.

Don't drink to excess Heavy drinking may affect sperm quality.

Keep your cool Sperm is created at slightly below body temperature and that's why the testicles are housed in the scrotum. Wearing loose fitting
boxer shorts to improve circulation is a good idea.

Good tucker A variety of fresh foods plus regular exercise will boost his overall fitness, and is a great way for him to show you support. 5

Minutes to relieve stress and feel better

Massage therapy effectively treats pain, headaches, anxiety, insomnia and stress. Try this five-minute DIY massage:

LEGS Sit on the floor with your legs in front and, with hands in fists, press knuckles into your thighs and run your hands towards your knees. Change direction and go back towards the top of your legs. Put more pressure on sore spots. Do it for a minute.

FOREARMS Make a fist with one hand, bending your elbow, with palms facing up. Wrap the other hand around your forearm, with your thumb on top. Rotate your arm so the hand on top gently massages tender areas. Spend 30 seconds on each arm.

BACK Sitting on a stool, knead circles into your lower back with fists on each side of the spine. Work upwards for two minutes.

FEET Sit on a chair and place a golf ball under your foot. Move your foot slowly back and forth, then in circles. Press harder on tight spots. Do this for 30 seconds per foot.

 

Yawn for energy

Here's a quick way to raise your energy, but you may have to explain it to your boss if you get caught - yawn. New York State University psychologists say yawning boosts blood flow and chills the brain, giving an instant boost.

Best foot forward

Scientists may have found a potential new use for Botox - treating chronic heel pain (plantar fasciitis). This common complaint is caused by inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the foot. US researchers gave patients with chronic plantar fasciitis Botox jabs at three points in the foot, and their pain was significantly reduced in 12 weeks.

Did you know? When they stop using contraception, 85 per cent of couples will have a baby in the next 12 months.

 

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