Fertility
self-assessment
Should you seek advice about your
fertility?
For most, achieving
pregnancy causes no problems but some couples do experience difficulties.
If
you’re a woman trying for a child and are worried you might be having problems,
take this test. It will assess your situation and let you know if you should
seek further medical advice.
QUESTIONS
The words in italics appear as part of
an advice checklist on the results page of the tool.
1.
How long have you been trying to get pregnant?
a) Less than six months (0 points) It’s common for it to take
longer than six months to get pregnant and in the majority of cases this does
not indicate any problem.
b) Between six months and one year (1 points) It’s common for it to take up to 12 months to achieve
pregnancy, and in the majority of cases this does not indicate a problem.
c) Over one year (5 points) You’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than a year so
it is worth getting a check up with your GP.
d) Over 18 months (5 points) You’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than 18 months
so it is worth getting a check up with your GP.
2.
Are you 35 years or older?
a) Yes (3 points) After the age of 35 though
fertility problems become more common, so that`s why it`s recommended that you
seek more advice.
b) No (0 points)
Why age matters
Both
women and men are at their most fertile, (that is, most likely to conceive a
child through unprotected sex) in their early twenties.
In women,
fertility declines more quickly with age. This decline becomes rapid after age
35. A range of factors cause this, especially the decline in the quality of the
eggs being released by the ovaries.
Around
one-third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems.
This rises to two-thirds when the woman is over 40.
3.
Do you have a regular period?
a) Yes (0 points) You have regular periods, which
is good and makes it easier for you to keep track of your most fertile time of
the month.
b) No (5 points)
c) Don’t know (0 points) Try to keep track of your periods so you can tell when
you are most fertile.
More info on periods
A
period is a bleed from the uterus (womb) that is released through the vagina.
It happens approximately every 28 days, though anywhere between 24 and 35 days
is normal.
Periods
are part the female reproductive cycle.
Every
month the lining of the womb thickens in preparation for receiving a fertilised egg. But if the egg is not fertilised,
hormonal changes signal to this lining to break down. A period bleed is made up
of this lining, and a small amount of blood.
If your periods are irregular or absent, this may
indicate a problem with your fertility cycle.
4.
Have you been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?
a) Yes (5 points) PCOS can cause ovulation
problems, which may make it difficult to get pregnant so do seek advice.
b) No (0 points)
More about PCOS
The
most common cause of ovulation problems, leading to failure to become pregnant,
is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This is a condition associated with
multiple cysts in the ovaries.
As
well as problems getting pregnant, symptoms can also include light, irregular
or absent periods, weight gain, acne, and excessive hair growth.
The
symptoms of this condition can be improved by losing excess weight through a
healthy diet and exercise.
Medicines
or surgery can also help women with PCOS to ovulate, and achieve pregnancy.
5.
Have you ever had an ectopic pregnancy?
a) Yes (5 points)
b) No (0 points)
More on ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic
pregnancy is where a fertilised egg implants, and
starts to develop, outside the womb. These pregnancies cannot continue to
birth. Around 1% of pregnancies are ectopic pregnancies.
Left
untreated, an ectopic pregnancy can be fatal for the mother. But the number of
ectopic pregnancies that result in death is extremely small. Ectopic pregnancy
can be treated with surgery to remove the developing egg, or sometimes with
medicines.
If you have had a previous ectopic pregnancy, your
chance of having another raises from around 1% to 8%.
6.
Have you ever had surgery that may have affected your reproductive
organs?
a) Yes (5 points)
b) No (0
points)
7. How often do you have unprotected
sex during the fertile time of your monthly cycle?
a) Every day
(1 point) Keep having sex at least every other day during the
most fertile part of your monthly cycle.
b) At least
every other day (1 point) Keep having sex at least every other day during the
most fertile part of your monthly cycle.
c) Every few
days (0 points) It can help if you have sex more often during the most fertile part of your monthly cycle. At least every other day
is recommended.
d) I don’t
know when I am fertile (0 points) Having sex when you are most fertile will increase the
chance of getting pregnant. You are most fertile about 10-16 days after the
first day of your period.
Most fertile time of
the month?
When
a woman ovulates, an egg is released from her ovaries into the fallopian tubes.
This is where conception will occur if the egg is fertilised
by sperm.
If
you’re a woman who has regular periods, call the first day of your period 'day
one'. Typically, you will ovulate between day 10 and day 16. If you have
unprotected sex across these days, you give yourself best chance of conception.
Don’t
let the timing of ovulation become a source of stress. You only need to know
the exact day of ovulation if you want to time intercourse to the day. If you
simply have sex every day across the days you may be ovulating, you have the
best chance of becoming pregnant.
8. Do you have or have you ever had
Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or any other sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
a) Yes (5
points) Speak to your GP about STIs such as chlamydia
and gonorrhoea that can damage a woman`s fallopian
tubes, making it difficult to become pregnant.
b) No (0
points)
c) Don’t know
(0 points) Some STIs can affect fertility so if you`re unsure whether you might
have contracted an STI, seek help from your GP or a health clinic.
STI check
ups
Sexually
transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea can damage a woman's fallopian tubes, which can result
in difficulty becoming pregnant.
You can go along to your GP or local GUM clinic
if you are concerned about having an STI, or would like a check up. Go to
the 'Find services' section to find your nearest clinic.
9. Is there a history of fertility
problems in your close family like your parents, brothers, sisters or uncles?
a)Yes (5 points)
b) No (0
points)
ANSWERS
An
advice checklist will be generated according to how you respond to the
questions. See copy in italics after each response above.
0-1point
Based on your responses today it's too early to tell
whether they are any problems.
1-2
points
Based on your responses today it's still early days so it's not possible to tell
whether they are any problems.
2-3
points
Based on your responses today you should go for a check up with your GP.
3-50
points
Based on your responses today you should arrange to see your GP.
LINKS
Below are links to further information
that may be of interest. Please note these links will take you away from this
page.
Experiencing
irregular periods
Having
a polycystic ovarian syndrome
More
about miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
Talking
to your GP about fertility
Family
history of fertility problems
NHS Choices 2011