The three factors essential to successful conception are:
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the manufacture of eggs
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the manufacture of healthy sperm
-
healthy fallopian tubes
Eggs
If you want to conceive you need to make sure that you are ovulating. Generally if you are bleeding regularly then you are ovulating. Sometimes bleeding can occur if you aren’t ovulating but it is rare.
Usually if you don’t have a period for an extended time – it is because ovulation is not occurring (unless you are pregnant).
Therefore is you have an irregular period where you don’t have a period for extended times then get it checked out. You may not be ovulating regularly which will make it difficult for you to conceive.
Sperm
Healthy sperm is essential for successful conception. Up to 40% of infertility problems can be attributed to the male partner.
Sperm quality is diminished when there is:
- low sperm count (not enough sperm per millilitre of seminal fluid)
- poor motility (sperm do not swim well)
- not enough seminal fluid
- abnormalities
Factors that affect sperm production include smoking, alcohol, exposure to chemicals and heat.
If you have been trying to conceive for a while and the female is menstruating regularly then make sure the male is checked out too.
Fallopian Tubes
As was explained in How does Conception Occur? the fallopian tubes are the meeting place for the sperm and the egg. If the tubes are blocked then the sperm and the egg cannot meet and you cannot conceive.
Blockages in the fallopian tubes can occur due to infection to the pelvic cavity for example endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease PID, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, IUD use and curettage.
Tests are available to diagnose blocked fallopian tubes and sometimes surgery is successful in clearing blockages. Natural therapies can assist in minor blockages.
Blocked Tubes account for 20% of infertility cases and treatment such as IVF may be needed to successfully conceive.
