What is infertility?
Infertility is when a couple cannot conceive despite having regular unprotected sex.
Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving. A couple will only be diagnosed as being infertile if they have not managed to have a baby after one year of trying.
If you have been trying to conceive without success for longer than a year, it might be a good idea to speak to your GP and see if you can get some help, both emotional and practical.
There are also many different risk factors that can affect fertility in both men and women. These include external factors, lifestyle choices and environmental causes.
- Age: the older we get, the less fertile we become.
- Weight: research has found that there are links between weight and infertility. Individuals who are at risk include those who are obese, and those who are underweight. Visit our physical health and eating well page for advice.
- Smoking and drinking alcohol: if you would like support for reducing or stopping consumption of tobacco or alcohol, please see our dedicated drug, alcohol and tobacco page.
- Stress: you can find information on ways to reduce stress on our coping with stress page.
- Environmental factors: exposure to certain pesticides, solvents and metals has been shown to affect fertility, particularly in men.
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
Infertility can be a distressing experience, and can have an emotional toll on several aspects of your life. You may find it difficult to deal with your emotions, or you may find that relatives, friends and colleagues may not be understanding or aware of the grief you may be experiencing.
For those who are undergoing fertility treatment, making several intense medical decisions and the uncertainty that infertility brings can create an emotional upheaval. Not everyone will appreciate that undergoing fertility treatments is stressful, offering hope and anxiety in equal measure. It is important to ensure that you are taking care of yourself and getting the support that you need.
Things you can try to keep positive:
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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): is a form of psychotherapy that emphasises the important role of thinking. CBT teaches you that thoughts can affect how you feel and what you do. See our CBT page on how you can access.
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Relaxation techniques: The NHS recommed a list of relaxation techniques which can significantly reduce anxiety scores.
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Mindfulness: Mindfulness can help you cope with the stress of fertility treatments. Try one of our free mindfulness groups, find out more here.
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Guided imagery: Think of this as a type of daydreaming. The imagery may be about breathing in a specific color or about being in a calm, relaxing place.
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Expressive writing: The expressive writing included journaling exercises and a daily gratitude diary.
NHS Infertility
The NHS page contains an oveview, causes of, diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
British Infertility Counselling Assocation (BICA)
BICA are a registered charity with an aim to inform and educate the wider public about the psychological and social impact of infertility.
Fertility Network UK
Get in touch with the Fertility Network support team for advice, support or information.