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Can you tell the signs of healthy fertility? This expert says YES!

We often talk about what infertility looks like, but ever wondered if you can know the signs of healthy fertility? An expert talks about it.
Infertility is a rising concern. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Dr Pallavi Prasad Updated: 16 Dec 2021, 10:21 am IST

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Your menstrual cycle and fertility have a link. If you have irregular or absent periods, hormonal factors may be preventing you from becoming pregnant. Simply put, this means that the synchronized changes in your body that allow an egg to be released or fertilized do not occur, making this natural process difficult to take place. This is not the easiest to monitor and would necessitate the services of a professional doctor or fertility specialist. Another such condition is uterine abnormalities, such as the presence of polyps or fibroids.

Before you start worrying that you might be infertile, keep in mind that infertility affects only about 15% of couples. Unless you are aware of any complications, we recommend that you continue trying for at least a year if you are under the age of 35, before looking into the possibility of infertility.
Women’s chances of conceiving decrease as they age, with the quality and quantity of viable eggs decreasing beyond 35 years of age, and becoming very noticeable in their 40s.

Periods can say a lot about your fertility. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Other changes that may affect fertility include menstrual cycles becoming irregular or shorter, the lining of the womb becoming thinner and less capable of nurturing a fertilized egg.

Can your period indicate the timing of your fertile window?

In theory, women can only get pregnant for a short period of time, around ovulation. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when ovulation occurs, but it usually occurs 14 days before the next period for most women. It’s not true that all women are fertile on day 14 of their menstrual cycle. This may be true for women who have a regular 28-day cycle, but it will not apply to women who have shorter or longer cycles.

What are the signs of healthy fertility?

1. You have a consistent menstrual cycle
Having a regular cycle is a good indicator that you’re fertile. Women with regular 28-day cycles are likely to conceive. Regular cycles are strong evidence of regular ovulation, which is a necessary condition for being fertile.

2. You’ve never experienced a pelvic infection
While some chronic conditions can cause infertility, having a history of infections can also make getting pregnant difficult. As a result, if you haven’t had any pelvic infections, you may be more likely to conceive. Of course, a history of pelvic infections is only part of the picture. If you have regular periods, have never had a pelvic infection, and know when your fertile days are, your age is the only factor that is preventing you from having a normal pregnancy.

There’s a strong link between menstruation and fertility. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. You feel good
Having overall good health is advantageous when it comes to fertility. Feeling well is a very good indicator that you are indeed healthy. According to research, having a mental health issue can make getting pregnant more difficult.

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4. You experience these signs of ovulation
If you have regular periods but are still looking for more signs that work in favour of pregnancy, you should pay attention to ovulation. Watery vaginal discharge (before ovulation), thicker cervical mucus and breast tenderness (after ovulation) are signs that you are ovulating on a regular basis.

5. Your periods aren’t terribly painful
For many of these signs of fertility, the absence of symptoms rather than the presence of anything specific indicates that it may be easy for you to get pregnant. Extremely painful periods may indicate endometriosis, a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus is found outside of the uterus (most commonly in the pelvic cavity or ovaries), where it can cause pain, scarring, and inflammation.

6. Your periods aren’t particularly heavy
While everyone’s cycle is unique, your chances of becoming pregnant may be related at least tangentially to your cycle. Women who have extremely heavy periods may have fibroids, which are benign tumours that can alter the architecture of the uterus and interfere with embryo implantation and pregnancy growth.

Dr Pallavi Prasad

Dr Pallavi Prasad, Fertility consultant, Nova IVF fertility, Bangalore ...Read More

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