Now that you are over 35, are you faced with the decisions about trying to get pregnant? My husband and I are at that stage now. It’s a scary time for us. We have only been married for two years so we would like to have waited a little longer before starting a family, but I’m now 36 and we don’t know what our fertility chances are. So in order to become just a little less ignorant about our fertility chances, I started doing some research on the internet.

First off, it’s us women that seem to have the most fertility issues. Here are just two of the main factors affecting fertility that are pertinent to most women I think. 1. Body Weight – often we think that just being overweight can affect our fertility. Overweight or obese women may not be able to conceive due to hormone issues brought on by obesity. But underweight women can problems too; if they are able to conceive some are not able to provide the fetus/baby with the nutrients they need.

2. The other problem involves issues with the reproductive organs. In the ovaries, women can suffer from conditions such as fibroids, Poly Cystic Ovaries or twisted ovaries. And then also in the uterus we are affected by things like endometriosis. This can cause you to have further issues such as diminished ovarian reserve, low progesterone count and other ovulation disorders. I’m not overly happy with the knowledge that I am both overweight and have suffered from endometriosis for many years.

Men are not off the hook though. They too can suffer from infertility issues such as low sperm count and sperm motility, an STD, sperm blockages or an injury or disease. Also there are factors that affect both men and women. Factors like too much caffeine or alcohol, smoking, stress or not enough vitamins in the diet.

So putting all these factors together, my husband and I realized that we have quite a lot to deal with. It’s not just about taking the right vitamins or fertility drugs, but it’s about getting both of our bodies healthy. We know that as I get older our fertility chances decrease, so we’re taking a holistic approach to making sure that we give ourselves the best chances possible.

For more on our holistic approach to trying to get pregnant after 35, check out Michelle Rudge’s website at www.TryingToGetPregnantNow.com