Difficulties getting pregnant
Some women get pregnant very quickly; others have to try for a long time. It can take 1 year to get pregnant. This is normal.
If it takes longer, you or your partner may be less fertile. For instance: the man’s semen may not contain sufficient sperm cells.
Unhealthy lifestyle and age
Many factors can have a negative effect on the fertility of you and your partner. For example:
- smoking;
- drinking too much alcohol;
- being very overweight or underweight;
- certain medicines, for instance HIV medication;
- chronic diseases such as diabetes;
- using drugs;
- doing hard physical work;
- untreated STIs.
Live a healthy lifestyle: try to eat healthy food and take physical exercise.
Your fertility changes during your life. Above the age of 35, a woman’s fertility declines rapidly. Between the ages of 45 and 55, a woman stops menstruating and can no longer have children. This is called the menopause.
What to do in case of infertility?
Go to your doctor to find out why you are not getting pregnant (infertility). If necessary, the doctor will refer you to a specialist at the hospital for fertility treatment.
There are different options:
- therapy with medicines;
- technologies to aid fertilisation;
- an operation.
You can also adopt a child. For more information, contact Fiom (website only in Dutch).