Diet and lifestyle are crucial fertility factors

By Rosia Shelley
Fertility is a blessing (or a curse!) that was taken for granted in our parents’ or grandparents’ day, but the times are always changing, and with them our environment, our lifestyles and our bodies. According to a report out last month from the Women’s Health Council, as many as one in six couples is now unable to conceive naturally. There are various reasons why people are having more difficulty getting pregnant. Susannah Lawson, co-author of Optimum Nutrition Before, During and After Pregnancy, feels that ‘In general, people are in poorer health today. Stressful modern lifestyles, nutrient-depleted food and greater exposure to environmental pollutants are all taking their toll. It’s also more common for couples to wait until they’re older before they start trying for a baby.’ Age of course is a crucial factor: fertility falls off sharply around the age of 35 in both sexes (in men, sperm quality is compromised), and a woman in her thirties may take twice as long to conceive as a woman in her twenties. The average amount of time it takes is around six months, but it’s worth remembering that we’re all different: 18 months is not uncommon, and taking longer than that doesn’t by any means signal infertility. The desire for a baby can become all-consuming, and the monthly failure to conceive can be truly devastating, but there is a great deal we can do to boost our chances of establishing and maintaining a healthy pregnancy if we take a good look at the way we live.
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