Hello Friends! In my last post, I mentioned that I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which for me was one of the main reasons I experienced infertility. There were also other causes that contributed to my experience of infertility (which I will go into in future posts).
Infertility can affect both men and women and can be caused by different factors. If this is something you are experiencing, I encourage you to speak to your doctor or GP. Also, let me say, there is hope and you are not alone.
PCOS is a common condition that affects 1 in every 5 women in the UK [1]. You can read more about it here and here. One of the main features is irregular periods which means your ovaries do not regularly release eggs, a.k.a you do not ovulate.
PCOS can present differently in every woman. Some women have all the symptoms, some only a few and some none at all. Personally, my main symptom was irregular periods. I had a healthy BMI and what I would class as mild hair growth. One fact to note is that signs and symptoms of PCOS usually become evident during your late teens or early 20s. I didn’t go to see a doctor when I was initially having irregular periods. From my experience, if you are having persistent irregular periods, my advice would be to seek medical advice and support from a doctor early so that any necessary tests can be carried out.
As a health professional and a woman who has been on this journey of trying to conceive, I feel I should share some useful tips for when planning and trying for a baby! I hope you find them helpful.
- It takes two to tango. It takes both the man and woman to conceive. You are in this together. You both have to consider your health and wellbeing. I can’t stress this enough. Lean on each other, support each other, be gentle with one another. Trust me, it goes a long way and has so many benefits.
- Have lots of sex and may I add have fun whilst doing so Yes, you are trying for a baby, but it doesn’t have to be boring. It is recommended that you have sex at least every 2 to 3 days throughout the month to give you the best chance.
- Vitamins and supplements: It is recommended that you start taking 400mcg of folic acid whilst trying, and up until 12 weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid is very important to help prevent neural birth defects such as spina bifida. A point to note is that if you have certain existing health conditions, you may need to take a higher dose of folic acid, so it’s important to discuss your plans with a doctor or appropriate health professional before you start taking folic acid. Vitamin D at a dose of 10mcg is also recommended and this is important for healthy teeth, bones and muscles and it supports the immune system. Vitamin A supplements should be avoided when trying to conceive and whilst pregnant, as too much of Vitamin A could harm your baby [2].
- Stop smoking.
- Cut out alcohol.
- It is very important to discuss your plans to try for a baby with your doctor if you have a long-term medical condition and/or if you are taking any medication because there will be additional factors to consider.
- Seek advice and support from someone/people you trust who may be on the same journey or are parents already. It helps when you have support
- Pray: God hears, sees and has good plans for you. He will provide all you need and more for this exciting journey ahead!
The above is not an exhaustive list. You can find some more useful information here and see your GP/doctor as needed.
All in all, enjoy the journey. Take it easy on yourself and each other. The journey looks different for every couple. Some couples will conceive straight away, some won’t. That’s okay. Just keep making progress and doing the best you can. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. I would absolutely love to support in anyway I can.
Stay blessed. Until next week…
[1] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/
[2] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/planning-pregnancy/