image from Clare Metcalf Photography

I thought it could be fun (or possibly not so fun but a great way to learn) and help readers explore their fertility potential. I know before I had my first child, I often wondered if it would be hard for me to conceive – not because I thought I had any obvious issues but because every second person seemed to be presenting with fertility problems. In my line of work, I mostly see couples having trouble – the ones without any obvious obstacles don’t usually come my way, so it’s understandable that this attitude began to engrain itself within me. Fast forward several years and now I can usually sniff out possible fertility problems within a couple of minutes – and so I thought with this knowledge, I’d devise a set of questions to help people learn their own fertility potential. Obviously it is a rough guide – but it will allow you to gain a greater sense of just how fertile you might be.

Here goes!

Female Questions

How regular is your menstrual cycle?
1. Every 26 – 30 days
2. 30 – 35 days
3. 35+ days
4. Less than 25 days

Do you experience any PMS? (tender breasts, irritability, emotional upset, pain leading up to the period)
1. No never
2. Yes but not every month
3. Every month for a day or two
4. Yes it lasts for up to a week – it is very bad

Is there any period pain?
1. No never
2. Yes but not every month/I don’t need to take medication
3. Every month and I need to take pain relief
4. Yes it lasts for up to a week – it is very bad

How heavy is the period?
1. Steady flow for at least 3 days (changing tampon or pad every 4 hours)
2. Heavy initial but tapers off (needing to change pad/tampon more than every 3 hours)
3. It is quite a light flow (but at least 2 days of bleeding)
4. I only get one day of bleeding

Do you know when you ovulate?
1. Yes I can tell very clearly with my cervical mucus
2. I have a rough idea although I don’t fully understand
3. Yes I have some pain which indicates ovulation
4. No I have no idea or even know if I ovulate

How is your libido
1. Very healthy – I’m always up for it
2. Depending on how stressed/tired I am – it’s pretty healthy (at least 2 times per week)
3. Fairly low, I don’t ‘ask’ for it
4. Low – we confine sex to the ‘fertile’ days only

How often do you have sex?
1. Three or more times per week
2. Two times per week
3. Only in the fertile window
4. Hardly ever

Have you been on the pill or any other form of hormone contraceptive (implanon, IUD, mini pill etc)?
1. No never
2. Yes over 1 year ago and I have my period back
3. Yes, I stopped taking it recently (within 6 months) and have my period back
4. Yes over 6 months now without a period.

How much alcohol do you consume in a week?
1. I don’t drink
2. I rarely drink, I’d be lucky to drink 2 glasses a month
3. 1-4 glasses per week
4. More than 4 drinks per week

How much protein do you eat?
1. I eat protein at all three meals and snacks where possible
2. Usually only dinner, sometimes lunch time
3. Dinner time only
4. I am vegetarian

How stressed are you?
1. I have very minimal stress
2. I’m slightly stressed
3. I’m probably stressed more than I realise
4. I’m extremely stressed

How is your emotional health?
1. I’m well balanced
2. I can be slightly emotional
3. I’m highly emotional
4. I suffer from anxiety/depression

Are there any issues you know of impacting your fertility?
1. No, I have no reason to believe so
2. No but I suspect something might not be right
3. Yes suspected endometrosis/PCOS uncomfirmed
4. Confirmed by a laparoscopy and diagnosed with PCOS/Endo/Fertility issues

Male Questions

How is your libido?
1. Very healthy – I’m always up for it
2. Depending on how stressed/tired I am – it’s pretty healthy (at least 2 times per week)
3. Fairly low, I don’t ‘ask’ for it
4. Low – we confine sex to the ‘fertile’ days only

How often do you have sex?
1. Three or more times per week
2. Two times per week
3. Only in the fertile window
4. Hardly ever

Has there been a recent semen analysis?
1. Yes all clear according to reports
2. Yes but average result
3. No, but I’m thinking about doing one soon
4. No

How much alcohol do you consume in a week?
1. I don’t drink
2. I rarely drink, I’d be lucky to drink 2 glasses a month
3. 1-4 glasses per week
4. more than 4 drinks per week

How much protein do you eat?
1. I eat protein at all three meals and snacks where possible
2. Usually only dinner, sometimes lunch time
3. Dinner time only
4. I am vegetarian

How stressed are you?
1. I have very minimal stress
2. I’m slightly stressed
3. I’m probably stressed more than I realise
4. I’m extremely stressed

How is your emotional health?
1. I’m well balanced
2. I can be slightly emotional
3. I’m highly emotional
4. I suffer from anxiety/depression

How did you score? Perhaps that’s a silly question – you’re waiting for me to tell you how you scored.

Mostly 1’s and 2’s – You are in great health. Your fertility potential is high, and if you have been having trouble trying to conceive, perhaps it’s time to explore naturally why you aren’t falling pregnancy – very often in these cases, it’s all about the timing, and something you may be miss calculating. To solve this problem, is simple – lots of regular intimacy is very important to exercise the reproductive organs, increase blood flow to the area to provide plenty of oxygenated goodness to your fertility. Plus it ensures you are covering all bases – because we very often don’t ovulate when we think we are – so by having plenty of regular sex, there is less of a chance that you miss your fertility window. Perhaps you were almost all 1’s and 2’s but had a 4 or two in there – the 4’s are the numbers you need to look out for – any of these can be the single factor as to why you might have trouble falling pregnant. Remember, men are 60% of the equation – so their health is just as important (if not more) than their female partners.

Mostly 2’s and 3’s – Your health is okay but can do with some improvements. Fertility is average. Your fertility may be compromised by your general health – since we don’t require our reproductive organs to function for us to be alive. You’re body is very clever, it simply ‘switches off’ the areas it doesn’t need when health is average – protecting the vital organs to keep the rest of you functioning. Are you eating well? Food provides the foundation not just for your body to work well but for your fertility! Eating ample protein is vital for reproductive function. Stress affecting your sleep? Let’s be honest, it affect your entire life. So if you are scoring in this area, there are some changes that need to be made to boost fertility – this also goes for IVF patients too. Sort out what makes you stress and implement ways of helping your body cope better – introducing regular exercise, acupuncture, massage and time out are great ways for you to de-stress as we know stress lowers fertility by up to 50%.

Mostly 3’s and 4’s – Your fertility potential is low. Any of the 4’s alone are reason to be concerned but couple these together and there is definite reason to explore. Most of the number 4’s are pre-cursors for me to explore deeper as to why somebody isn’t falling pregnant – very often making simple lifestyle changes will have a massive impact – in some instances this is enough, and in others, more specific treatments are required. Suffer terrible periods? It doesn’t have to be this way. PMS, period pain and heavy bleeding aren’t normal. It’s your bodies way of telling you something else is up. Have an extremely light period or very long cycle? Maybe ovulation is being compromised. Whatever the case, it’s important you find somebody who knows how to look deep enough to find out exactly what is going on.

Undoubtably this information might raise questions for you – which I am only every too happy to answer. Should you have an inquiry, don’t hesitate to email us at the clinic – you might want some simple guidance in the right direction to explore your fertility. It can be difficult finding the right person for the job! Being comfortable and having your fertility explained to you in depth is just so important to help you take charge of your own health rather than relying on somebody else telling you what is wrong. Of course in some instances, you need a specific diagnosis, but once you have found this you can implement appropriate treatments, dietary changes and lifestyle practice that will increase your fertility ten fold.