Fertility Road Issue 03

QI’ve just married the love of my life. I am 33 and in
good health, yet he is more than twice my age. So
much of fertility seems to be from the perspective of
the woman, but in this instance, should I be worried that the
quantity and quality of my husband’s sperm may be a cause
for some anxious times ahead in terms of getting pregnant?
– Sandeep Margat, Ramsgate
A
You don’t state if you want to start trying for a baby straight
away. If you are, it is worth having regular sex at least 2-3
times a week for the next 4-6 months and seeing what
happens before testing your partner. For every test there is a result,
and through my experience this can send you into a real panic if the
slightest thing is out of the normal range, which in turn can put a
lot of stress on a newly married relationship.
Many things affect male fertility so it’s best if he does not
smoke, does not drink alcohol to excess and eats a well balanced
diet. Male fertility does decline somewhat with age and many
men will benefit from taking a male fertility supplement. If it is
discovered that he has a fertility problem, there are many things
that can be done in terms of assisted fertility.
QWould having sex twice a day during my ‘window’
have any real greater effect on my chances of getting
pregnant than having sex just once a day? Thanks.
– Angela Edwards, Grantham
A
Having sex once a day is more than enough. Twice a day
can put a lot of pressure on your partner. Healthy sperm
can live for 3-5 days inside you, so aim to have sex at
least 3 times a week to ensure that there is plenty of sperm in the
fallopian tube ready to meet the egg once it’s released. A healthy
diet and lifestyle is very important also as this can have an impact
on the quality of the egg and sperm.
YOUR
BIG DAY
THE MOST POPULAR
DAY FOR A BABY TO
ARRIVE IS A WEDNESDAY
– 15% MORE BIRTHS
ON THIS DAY THAN
THE AVERAGE.
AND THE LEAST
POPULAR DAY?
SUNDAY!
QWe have researched what we believe to be two
excellent IVF clinics in India. We like the idea of
combining our pursuit of a family with a relaxing
trip, and I’ve always wanted to visit Asia, but are there
guarantees over technical knowledge and proficiency, and
are we being too ambitious when a clinic closer to home
may be a less stressful venture?
– Jonathan Welton, Skye
A
The idea of going overseas to combine your pursuit of
a family with a relaxing trip sounds nice in theory but
in practice can prove very different. Cultural differences,
language barriers and expectations can be incredibly stressful to
some, while in others the challenge is something that takes
them out of their normal state, and therefore takes the attention
away from the task in hand. Personally, I believe couples are
better off having a holiday and focusing on IVF separately at
home, but it really does depend on who you are and what type
of person you are. We are all different and we all enjoy different
challenges and experiences.
Zita West has given specialist fertility
and pregnancy advice for over 25 years, as
a midwife, an acupuncturist, a nutritional
advisor and as an author and consultant.
She has also written numerous books on fertility
and pregnancy, with her latest title - Zita West’s Guide
to Fertility and Assisted Conception - now available.
For more information on Zita, her London clinic or books,
visit www.zitawest.com
MORE
ABOUT
ZITA
WEST
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