Fertility refers to the ability to conceive a child. A number of things may affect fertility, including age, hormonal imbalances, overall health, and lifestyle factors (like maintaining a healthy weight, smoking, stress, and more). Generally, if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year with no positive results, you may have fertility issues. Your doctor can help, with treatment options ranging from medication and lifestyle changes to assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization.
A number of factors affect fertility, including age, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle choices like alcohol and tobacco use, being overweight or underweight, and stress.
How long should couples try to get pregnant before seeking help?
Typically, couples should try to conceive naturally for one year (or six months if you’re over the age of 35) before seeking fertility help.
What are some common fertility treatments?
Common fertility treatments include medications, surgery to restore fertility, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization. Lifestyle changes like having sex closer to ovulation and avoiding alcohol and tobacco can also help.
Can diet improve fertility?
While no specific foods can treat fertility issues, a well-balanced, nutritious diet can help support fertility in both women and men.
Is male fertility affected by age?
Sperm quality and quantity can deteriorate with age. Generally, male fertility begins to decline around age 40 to 45, making it more difficult to conceive and increasing the risk of genetic abnormalities in children.
Everyday Health’s team of board-certified physicians and health professionals contribute to the creation and review of content, ensuring that the information is useful, up to date, and accurate.
John Paul McHugh, MD, is an obstetrician-gynecologist and lifestyle medicine specialist in southern California. He has always placed wellness at the center of his work, in both del...
Kacy Church, MD, practices as a clinical endocrinologist with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Burlingame, California. She balances both outpatient and inpatient responsibilitie...
Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecolog...
Michelle Seguin, MD, is a board-certified family medicine, lifestyle medicine, and certified functional medicine physician (IFMCP). She is a practicing physician at Root Functional...
Kayli Anderson has over a decade of experience in nutrition, culinary education, and lifestyle medicine. She believes that eating well should be simple, pleasurable, and sustainabl...
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
