Fertility MOT will be exhibiting at this year’s Fertility Show, at London’s Olympia on 5 and 6 November.

The show, which is expected to attract over 3,000 visitors, is the key annual event designed to give couples trying for a baby as much information as possible – whether they need help to conceive or just want to know more about their own fertility.

At our stand you’ll be able to find more about what a Fertility MOT involves, and speak to our staff face-to-face about the implications of your test results.

So if you’re planning to come to the Fertility Show, make sure you visit our stand to get more details about investigations into your fertility. Remember that most Fertility MOT tests are usually completed within one menstrual cycle, so you could have answers in as little as four weeks. You also don’t have to be tested as a couple, you can be tested individually.

If you have any questions before you come to the show, click here for our FAQs page. To book tickets to the show, visit www.fertilityshow.co.uk.

Would you like to know in advance if you’re going to have problems getting pregnant? It seems that most of us do.

Almost three-quarters of people surveyed via a leading fertility clinic, Manchester Fertility Services, said they would consider a Fertility MOT to see how fertile they are which would highlight in advance any problems that could make it difficult to conceive naturally when they do decide to have children.

A Fertility MOT, which involves a series of simple tests for both men and women, is particularly useful if you don’t want to have a family until later in life. Usually, GPs refer you for further investigation if you’ve not fallen pregnant after a year or more.
But if you’re already in your 30s before you even start trying for a baby, any delay can further reduce your chances of treatment success, due to declining fertility rates as we age.

So if you know you will need help in future – for example the test results shows your partner has a low sperm count or you may have ovulation problems – you may decide to have your family earlier in life to maximise your chances of success.

What’s important to remember however is that whilst the results of the Fertility MOT test obviously have huge implications, in most cases the results provide the reassurance that when you’re ready to have a family, there will be no medical reason why you can’t conceive naturally.

But if the results do show that there may be a problem, at least you will be prepared and if necessary, we can help refer you for further treatment and investigation.

If you’re trying for a baby, you’ll no doubt be reading up on as much information, tips and advice as possible to ensure you conceive successfully. You might have heard rumours that post-coital headstands will help or old wives’ tales of eating certain foods – none of which are true. So here’s our quick tips for getting pregnant, to help you along the right path.

First and foremost, check your lifestyle. Cut out the alcohol, stop smoking and reduce your caffeine intake. Avoid raw or undercooked meat, raw eggs and soft cheeses. We also advise you start taking 400 micrograms of folic acid every day to decrease the risk of neural-tube defects, such as Spina Bifida, once you do conceive.

Next, get to know your menstrual cycle. Ovulation happens around 14 days before the first day of your next period, so have sex regularly from about four days before you ovulate. Sperm can live for several days inside the body so making love before ovulation happens, gives it time to travel up the Fallopian tubes.

What about your weight? Being overweight or obese can affect your chances of conception as well as the health of your baby should you conceive. The chances of you conceiving are significantly reduced if you are overweight, so follow a sensible diet and exercise plan. It’s vital you visit your GP before embarking on any weight loss plan so make sure you book yourself an appointment.

Finally, relax and be patient! It can take some time before you get pregnant and worrying or stressing about it won’t help. Remember to enjoy this part of the process. It’s supposed to be fun after all. And being relaxed is the best plan of attack.