If you have been trying to conceive naturally for a while and are concerned because ‘nothing is happening’ then it might be good time to speak to a fertility nurse specialist who can listen to your concerns and put you on the right path.
Fertility nurses bring a wealth of experience from other areas of nursing and midwifery and are trained at Bourn Hall to gain specialist skills such as fertility scanning and administration of treatments such as ovulation induction, which can help couples conceive naturally.
At Bourn Hall we offer a consultation with a fertility nurse to review your medical and reproductive history (date of first period, frequency of menstruation, underlying health issues) to see if there might be reasons why you are struggling to conceive and to make recommendations on lifestyle changes that might be helpful to increase fertility fitness.
You may already have had some tests or think you might need them and the nurse can review your results and advise on next steps.
Each of our clinics have a team of nurses and healthcare assistants led by a fertility nurse or fertility midwife, depending on her previous career path. Where possible you will have the same nurse at all stages of your journey with us, so they will get to know you and provide support on the way.
The nursing teams at each Bourn Hall location are led by:
Getting fertility fit can help you get pregnant or make treatment more successful
Here are some tips from our nursing team:
Don’t get stressed about timing ovulation (release of an egg) – ovulation happens once a month, so having regular unprotected intercourse two or three times a week will cover this. Keep a diary of your periods though, if they are irregular this is a sign that you are not ovulating.
BMI and fertility – for both partners lifestyle improvement can help improve fertility. For a female, having a BMI between of 19-30 is best as being over or under weight can affect your ovulation. For men, a high BMI can affect sperm production.
Eat protein for breakfast – an excess of body fat causes an hormone imbalance. Eliminating simple carbs such as sweets and biscuits and eating protein, which also makes you feel fuller for every meal can help. Replacing breakfast cereal, with a protein rich one such as scrambled egg or high protein yoghurt with berries is a good choice.
Reduce the heat – overheated testicles can temporarily lower sperm counts, so avoid saunas, hot baths, and tight underwear.
Moderate exercise is best – walking and activities like yoga that reduce stress are good. However, cycling for long periods on hard bike seats can also reduce fertility in men through pressure on the perineum, potentially damaging the blood vessels to the genital area. A gel bike seat can help and provide more cushioning.
Increase colour in your diet – leafy vegetables and colourful fruit are rich in antioxidants and help protect you from disease. They also improve the quality of sperm by reducing damage to DNA from free radicals – unstable molecules created in the body in response to stress and environmental toxins.
Make time for each other – infertility can be stressful and create tension in relationships. Do something together that you both enjoy on a regular basis and keep talking to each other. Our Fertility Support Group can help you to share your experiences with others in a similar situation and it is reassuring to hear that others feel the same as you.
More information
To book a free fertility nurse consultation go to our contact page and use the drop-down menu to choose Fertility Nurse Consultation, or use the form below.
Reasons why you might be struggling to become pregnant
Questions that men ask about infertility
Common causes of female infertility – including a useful video
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