What is fertility?

Fertility is the ability to produce offspring, or the state of being fertile. 

Puberty is the stage in which people reach sexual maturity. Production of sex hormones increases, causing physical and emotional changes. In girls, an increase in the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone trigger their menstrual cylce, marking the start of their fertility. 

Your menstrual cycle plays a significant role in helping you understand your fertility. Women with regular periods from adolescence through menopause generally have reproductive organs that function like they should.

Women with irregular periods, abnormal bleeding, or absent periods may have issues that affect the function of their reproductive organs and their fertility.

What affects a woman’s fertility?

Many conditions affect a woman’s fertility. Some of the gynecological conditions that cause infertility in women include:

• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Fibroids
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Your overall health and wellness also affects your fertility. For example, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and smoking may decrease your fertility, making it harder to get pregnant.

If you have future pregnancy plans and concerns about your fertility, schedule an appointment at Bay Area Physicians for Women

What can I expect during a fertility consultation?

Bay Area Physicians for Women recommends all women with future plans for pregnancy schedule a preconception visit with the obstetrics and gynecology physicians.  

During this fertility consultation, your provider does a thorough history and physical to assess your current health and help you make changes to your lifestyle that improve fertility and chances of conception.

Bay Area Physicians for Women may also find gynecological conditions that might affect your fertility and provide treatments to manage those conditions.

Your OB/GYN also teaches you how to track ovulation so you can time having intercourse on the days you're most fertile.

What can I do to improve my fertility?

Your OB/GYN at Bay Area Physicians for Women provides specific guidelines for the steps you can take to improve your fertility. In general, you should eat a balanced diet, get regular exercise, quit smoking, and limit alcohol consumption.

Bay Area Physicians for Women also recommends you take a prenatal vitamin. These vitamins won’t improve your fertility, but they ensure your body has all of the nutrients it needs so your pregnancy gets off to a healthy start.

To schedule your fertility consultation at Bay Area Physicians for Women, call the office or book an appointment online today.