In the United Kingdom, roughly 1 in 7 couples have difficulty conceiving, even if they have
unprotected sex every 2-3 days a week for a year. Around 30% of infertility is related to men, 30%
to women, 30% to both men and women, whilst 10% is unexplained.
Female Fertility
Women may experience infertility for many reasons, some of which are modifiable. These include
- Age; fertility starts to decline from the early 30s, particularly from the age of 35
- Irregular periods or ovulation
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
- Certain health conditions e.g. polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, thyroid
disease, fibroids and uncontrolled diabetes or coeliac disease - Having a body mass index (BMI) in the underweight, overweight or obesity categories
- Certain lifestyle habits e.g. smoking, excessive alcohol consumption or excessive exercise
- Genetics; chromosomal abnormalities and genetic diseases
- Unexplained infertility
- Medications that may interfere with various aspects of fertility. If you are on regular
medications, seek advice from your GP before trying to conceive
Male Fertility
Male infertility has many causes: genetic, medical abnormalities or lifestyle issues. Smoking,
obesity, poor diet and environmental factors (like pollution or exposure to harmful pesticides
and chemicals) can also cause oxidative stress. This stress may cause damage to the sperm
and affect its ability to fertilise an egg and grow a healthy baby. Fertility in both men and women
reduces as you get older.
It takes between 2 – 3 months for new sperm to fully mature. That means it’s a good idea to think
about making changes to your diet and lifestyle at least 3 months before you try for a baby.
A fertility dietitian can give you individualised, evidence-based diet and lifestyle information to
help improve your chances of conception.
Referral to Weight Management
To be referred to our specialist fertility dietician, please ask your GP to refer you to weight management adding in fertility services. Our dedicated dietician will be in contact once the referral has been triaged. In the meantime please download and read the leaflets above.
