The time you decide to try for a baby to finally conceiving can be really exciting and fun but it can also leave you feeling anxious and worried. You’re not alone. Around 1 in 8 couples trying for a baby run into problems along the way. Here are some of the most common reasons why you may not be able to get pregnant.
Worrying
Worrying and feeling stressed and anxious about not getting pregnant is one of the most common reasons why couples can’t get pregnant especially if they think that it’s taking longer than expected. The best thing to do is just to let go of all expectations and stop obsessing about becoming pregnant and celebrate the positives, take care of your mental wellbeing as well as your physical health by keep exercising, eat well and find ways to relax and enjoy the baby making.
Not Having Sex at the Right Time
The right time to have sex is during ovulation – the 12-24 hour period when your ovaries release a mature egg that can be fertilised. Sex at any time always come with potential of getting pregnant, your chances are much higher during this time. Ovulation happens around halfway through your menstrual cycle so make sure you understand how to track it and watch out for ovulation signs.
Not Waiting Long Enough
There are some couples that seem to get pregnant as soon as they start trying. They are an exception and not the norm. While your first test can be disappointing, most women experience not getting pregnant straight away before conceiving. Research has shown the average couple has around a 25% chance of getting pregnant during any given cycle. So even though it can be hard, be patient. It’s within the of normal to take up to a year or so to get pregnant if you’re under 35.
Infertility
Infertility problems can be traced back to the man as often as the woman. Male infertility can have arrange of reasons – from anatomical problems to uncontrolled chronic diseases like diabetes, to infections. Obesity, smoking and alcohol use are culprits too. Semen analysis or a sperm count can pinpoint the root cause. So if you suspect your fertility problems might be stemming from your male partner, encourage him to see his doctor for a check-up.
Endometriosis
A very painful condition where tissue similar to the inside lining of the uterus grows outside the womb. This disease affects 15 % of women of reproductive age. It can make it harder to get pregnant as the growths can block part of the pelvic area e.g. fallopian tubes and ovaries which can make it harder for the fertilised egg to implant, or even trigger immune changes that block an embryo. This condition doesn’t always cause infertility issues. But if you do have it you should talk to your doctor about your plans for trying for a baby. If you run into issues conceiving, treatments such as fertility reflexology can help stagnation and debris in the system and helps manage pain.
Uterine Fibroids
These growths are common and harmless, but they can be very painful and potentially make it harder to get pregnant. Whilst most fibroids don’t affect fertility, depending on their size and location, it’s possible that the could make it harder for an egg to get fertilised or for a fertilised egg to implant in the uterus.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
A bacterial infection that affects the reproductive organs. PID most often stems from untreated STD like chlamydia or gonorrhea but it’s treatable with a course of antibiotics but if left untreated, inflammation from the infection can cause scarring in the reproductive tract. The scarring can make it harder to get pregnant and once this happens, it can’t be reversed.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a condition where you don’t ovulate or ovulate regularly, is a top cause of infertility in women. The good news is that it’s treatable. Ovulation issues from this condition are caused by hormonal imbalances. A course of Fertility Reflexology treatments works on the endocrine and Immune system and restores equilibrium, relaxation and creates a stronger body and a calmer mind.
Irregular Periods
Periods can be all over the place which can make it harder to track when you’re ovulating. At worst, they could mean you aren’t ovulating at all. Abnormal periods can have a number of reasons why this occurs including weight gain or loss, hormonal imbalances or thyroid disorders.
Diminished Ovarian Reserve/Premature Ovarian Insufficiency
This means the number of eggs or their quality has started to dwindle. It’s something that happens to every woman as she gets older, and its completely normal part of ageing. If the issue occurs soon than it should, typically before age 40, it’s called premature ovarian insufficiency or premature ovarian failure.
Thyroid Disorders
Thyroid problems like Thyroiditis can affect your body’s production of reproductive hormones, and potentially lead to irregular periods and problems with ovulation. But if it’s the root cause of your infertility, treating the thyroid issue can get our periods back to normal and up your chances of getting pregnant.
Unexplained Infertility
The reason why couples are unable to conceive remains unknown in some cases but sometimes it could be deep emotional issues that could be the cause which needs addressing. Unexplained infertility is typically only diagnosed after other possible underlying causes e.g. abnormal ovulation or sperm issues have been looked into and ruled out. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a baby. If you’re under 30, your doctor might recommend taking some more time to try and conceive. When the body isn’t working at it’s peak, the endocrine system is out of balance and not secreting hormones in the right sequence for pregnancy to take place. Fertility Reflexology not only deeply relaxes the body but it also brings the body back into equilibrium and improves infertility issues like the ones mentioned in this blog.
Fertility Reflexology is becoming more widely known as a solution to low fertility levels. Fertility Reflexology in conjunction with lifestyle changes offers a safe and natural approach by encouraging deep relaxation which alleviates stress and tension both physically and emotionally. This together with improvements in diet and lifestyle has the potential to bring the body back into balance and increasing fertility levels.
There’s little that can’t be addressed with Fertility Reflexology.
