Santé proactive en matière de fertilité : L'histoire de Coni et Mike

Proactive Fertility Health - L'histoire de Coni et Mike
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Today we’re sharing a slightly different story about fertility health. For many couples, fertility testing is something they start to consider when they experience a hard time getting pregnant. However, if you can understand your fertility health before trying for a baby, it can help you make informed decisions, plan effectively, and reduce stress. With our at-home sperm test and Adia Health’s hormone test, you can get ahead of the curve and take a proactive approach to your fertility health. That’s what our Adia friend Coni and her fiancé Mike decided to do ahead of their wedding next year. Here they share their story and their results.

Fertility Health: Mike’s story

Coni and I have always talked about having kids – she would be a great mum! I feel like we hold good shared values that I would love to pass on to our family. I’d honestly never given any thought to my fertility until Coni joined the Adia team. I think we all go through life expecting to be able to have children. As men, I feel like we’re less likely to consider the possibility that the road to parenthood may be a difficult one.

It takes two

When Coni said she was going to take the Adia hormone test, I was supportive and equally as interested as her to find out the results. However, I realized how important it was for me to play an equal part in understanding our fertility chances. If Coni took the test and I didn’t, the results would almost be irrelevant. When Adia started offering Exseed’s sperm test alongside the hormone panel, it seemed like a great opportunity for us to take this step together, so I ordered one of their at-home sperm tests.

Whilst the whole process was super quick and easy, it was unexpectedly nerve-racking. And I was in the comfort of my own home and only testing out of curiosity! It made me realize that if I was in a clinic, having been trying for over a year, my stress levels would have been sky high.ExSeed Health test kit

Good to know fertility health ahead of time

When the results came through, initially my heart sank. My volume and actual sperm count were totally normal – but my motility was quite low. I had lazy sperm, essentially. It surprised me how much this news affected me emotionally. I went through a whole range of feelings, from panic to denial, to upset and embarrassed. I can only imagine how it must feel if you are actually struggling to conceive.ExSeed Health application

After getting my results

The Exseed app gives great tailored advice on the lifestyle changes you can make to improve your sperm health. I was relieved to see there were loads of things I could do to boost my motility – from eating more vegetables to having more sex (that one certainly cheered me up a bit!) However, I was still concerned. I hoped that everything was going to be fine, but it played on my mind for the next few days. I decided to book in for a free consultation with one of Exseed’s fertility specialists and I’m so glad I did.

We spoke on the phone and he took a closer look at the video of my sperm sample. He reassured me that my little guys were actually moving and that even with the current level of motility, our chances of getting pregnant would be fairly high. He also explained how sperm motility changes all the time, so it would be a good idea to take a few more tests to get an average result.

We spoke in more detail about the lifestyle changes I could make, and how a few good habits could make all the difference. I had initially been dreading the phone call, but I actually felt more empowered and confident after our conversation. ExSeed also offers lifestyle programs, fertility supplements, and their blog is packed with fertility-related information, which can help when you’re planning for a baby. I now know everything is going to be fine rather than just hoping.

It’s always worth planning ahead

It’s easy to bury our heads in the sand about this sort of thing, but actually having the information is less scary than going into the unknown. We’re not getting married for another 18 months, so I have plenty of time to make some changes. I don’t feel a huge panic or pressure – which I probably would have done if we were already trying. I’d love to encourage other guys to investigate their fertility. We track so many aspects of our health and fitness – from our body weight to how much we can lift at the gym. It makes total sense to track our sperm health too.

Fertility Health: Coni’s story 

I have always known I wanted to be a mother. My mum and I have an amazing relationship and I have dreamed of recreating that with my own family when the time is right and with the right person. I was lucky enough to find that person in Mike. After 7 years of dating, he proposed last year and we are now planning our wedding for July 2021. Mike loves kids and we’ve always spoken openly about wanting to start a family. So as we plan our wedding, amongst the dress fittings and caterer tastings, it’s unsurprising that conversations have turned to when we might start trying for a baby.

We go back and forth as to whether we should start trying straight away after our wedding or to enjoy our first year as a married couple without the pressure of trying to conceive. We are both incredibly focused on our careers at the moment, love to travel and go on spontaneous nights out with friends. If I had a crystal ball and knew we would have no problem getting pregnant in our mid-30s, I think I would be happy to hold off for a few more years. But if we did wait and found out down the line we couldn’t have children, I know we would both be devastated.

Thinking about fertility health

Working for Adia has certainly made me think about my fertility in a different, more pertinent way. However, I’ve always been conscious of the unpredictable nature of the road to parenthood. I’ve watched friends navigate fertility challenges, some have suffered loss, others finally becoming parents after multiple IVF attempts. Witnessing their experience really highlighted to me that it’s not always as easy as we hope to get pregnant. I have a male friend who went through IVF with his wife. He once said to me: “We all think we want to wait for the right time. But my advice is don’t wait! If you know you want kids and you’re with the right person, go for it.” That stuck with me and has been at the back of my mind as I contemplate my own plans for children.

I’m about to turn 30, so my biological clock is starting to tick that little bit louder. But on paper, I should have no problem getting pregnant. However, all of our biological clocks are different. Of course, we all know the statistics – that a woman’s fertility dips after 35 – but I’ve also witnessed women at 27 going through IVF. Sometimes there is more to it than time or age, and all too often we aren’t aware of underlying issues that could make conceiving harder until we get to the point of trying for a baby.

Not serious enough for a doctor, but too important not to think about

This is why I was so grateful for Adia. As someone who is purely curious about their fertility and with no obvious pre-existing conditions, I wouldn’t have known where to start otherwise. I didn’t really feel comfortable booking an appointment with my GP. I didn’t want to spend thousands at a private clinic to find out about my hormones. But taking the at-home test and chatting to the Adia experts felt like a great first step. It was a good way to find out more about my body at this exploratory stage.

Before I took the test I had to stop my hormonal contraceptive, and that in itself was an enlightening experience. It had been over a decade since I’d had a natural period, so I really had no idea what was going on in my own body. Coming off contraception has taught me so much about my own cycle, including the fact I am naturally regular, which was one of my concerns.

Taking a fertility hormone test

I decided to take the Adia test a few weeks ago, hopeful that no issues were flagged but ready to take action if they were. It was so easy and I was surprised at how quickly the results landed in my inbox. Everything looked ok, although my AMH was a little high. This could have been an indication of PCOS. I had a chat with an Adia expert and because my periods are regular, they said that’s probably unlikely. I also read up on the foods I should start eating to help boost my fertility down the line. It felt fun and interesting, rather than overwhelming, as I have plenty of time to adapt my eating habits.

Hormone test

I was happy and relieved with the results and now feel really in touch with my body, which is nice. Of course, there are so many other issues that could arise – the test is not a guarantee that I’ll be able to get pregnant easily. But knowing that my hormones are where they should be gives me some peace of mind.  It allows me to make an informed decision about when to start trying. It’s so interesting that we spend years planning our weddings, but we rarely put the same amount of time into planning our future family. I’m so happy Mike and I are getting ahead of the curve. I’m excited to start planning – and trying – soon!

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Plus de explorer

Endométriose et fertilité
Fécondité

Guide de l'endométriose et de la fertilité

L'endométriose est une maladie qui touche une femme sur dix et les personnes ayant des règles, mais elle est souvent mal diagnostiquée et mal comprise. Bien que de nombreuses femmes atteintes d'endométriose puissent concevoir naturellement, il est possible que la maladie ait un impact sur la fertilité.

Lire la suite "

Porter des pantalons et des sous-vêtements serrés

Des études montrent que les hommes qui portent des sous-vêtements amples ont une concentration de sperme et un nombre total de spermatozoïdes plus élevés que les hommes qui portent des sous-vêtements plus serrés. Alors, laissez tomber les vêtements serrés et portez des vêtements amples pour donner de l'air à vos testicules.

CONCLUSION : apprenez-en davantage sur la façon dont la chaleur peut affecter la qualité du sperme. ici.

Stress

Outre un taux de mortalité plus élevé et diverses maladies, le stress est associé à une mauvaise qualité du sperme. On sait que le stress est associé à une baisse du taux de testostérone et au stress oxydatif, tous deux jouant un rôle essentiel dans la production et le maintien de spermatozoïdes sains.

CONCLUSION : Si vous vous sentez stressé, nous vous recommandons de vous faire aider afin d'avoir une santé mentale équilibrée. Pour un guide de gestion du stress, téléchargez le L'application ExSeed est gratuite et vous pouvez commencer votre plan d'action personnalisé dès aujourd'hui.

Activité physique

Des études scientifiques montrent que les hommes qui sont physiquement actifs ont de meilleurs paramètres de sperme que les hommes inactifs. Les spécialistes de la fertilité affirment également qu'une activité physique régulière a un impact bénéfique sur les paramètres de fertilité du sperme et qu'un tel mode de vie peut améliorer le statut de fertilité des hommes.

En donnant la priorité à l'exercice physique, vous pouvez améliorer votre santé générale et obtenir des spermatozoïdes sains et rapides qui ont de bonnes chances de féconder un ovule.

CONCLUSION : Essayez d'intégrer l'exercice dans votre programme hebdomadaire pour vous assurer de faire de l'exercice au moins deux fois par semaine. Nous recommandons une combinaison d'entraînement cardio et d'exercices de musculation. Plus d'informations sur l'exercice et la fertilité masculine sur notre blog.

Nutrition

Restauration rapide
Les aliments transformés nuisent à la santé des cellules productrices de sperme et provoquent un stress oxydatif, ce qui entraîne une baisse de la qualité du sperme. Une consommation importante de malbouffe (chaque semaine) peut augmenter la probabilité d'infertilité, car les hommes qui consomment de grandes quantités d'aliments malsains risquent d'avoir un sperme de mauvaise qualité. En plus de nuire à votre fertilité, la malbouffe fait grossir votre tour de taille, nuit à votre système cardiovasculaire et à vos reins, entre autres.

Légumes
Manger plus de fruits et de légumes peut augmenter la concentration et la mobilité de vos spermatozoïdes. Il est important que vous ayez une alimentation saine, riche en antioxydants, et que vous mangiez des légumes tous les jours. Les aliments tels que les abricots et les poivrons rouges sont riches en vitamine A, qui améliore la fertilité masculine en favorisant la santé des spermatozoïdes. Les hommes qui présentent une carence en cette vitamine ont tendance à avoir des spermatozoïdes lents et paresseux.

En-cas/boissons sucrés : plusieurs fois par semaine La consommation excessive d'articles à forte teneur en sucre peut entraîner un stress oxydatif, qui a un impact négatif sur les niveaux de testostérone et la motilité des spermatozoïdes. Les collations et les boissons sucrées sont également fortement associées à l'obésité et à une faible fertilité.
CONCLUSION : Pour améliorer la qualité du sperme, évitez les fast-foods, les aliments transformés et les collations ou boissons sucrées. Vous devez mettre en place un régime alimentaire sain et prudent, rempli de super aliments nécessaires à une bonne production de sperme. Consultez notre guide pour Super aliments pour la fertilité masculine. Pour orientation personnalisée et un soutien sur la manière dont vous pouvez commencer à améliorer la santé de votre sperme, consultez la page Bootcamp.

Chaleur

La chaleur directe peut empêcher la production optimale de sperme et endommager l'ADN des spermatozoïdes. Les spermatozoïdes aiment les environnements dont la température est inférieure de quelques degrés à celle du corps. Évitez la surchauffe des couvertures chaudes, des sièges chauffants, de la chaleur de votre ordinateur portable, des douches chaudes et des saunas.

Fumer des cigarettes

L'exposition à la fumée de tabac a des effets négatifs importants sur la qualité du sperme. Les dommages causés par les cigarettes et la nicotine dépendent bien sûr du nombre de cigarettes que vous fumez par jour et pendant combien de temps, mais même une faible consommation (jusqu'à 10 cigarettes/jour) peut inhiber la production de sperme sain.  

CONCLUSION : Restez aussi loin que possible de la cigarette si vous vous souciez de votre santé générale et de votre fertilité. Lire la suite ici.

Téléphone portable

Lorsque vous avez votre téléphone portable dans votre poche avant, vos testicules sont exposés aux rayonnements électromagnétiques, dont les études ont montré qu'ils endommagent les spermatozoïdes. Mettez votre téléphone dans la poche arrière de votre pantalon ou dans la poche de votre veste.

IMC

Il existe un lien évident entre l'obésité et la réduction de la qualité du sperme. Cela s'explique, du moins en partie, par le fait que les hommes obèses peuvent présenter des profils hormonaux reproductifs anormaux, ce qui peut nuire à la production de sperme et entraîner l'infertilité. 

Un IMC supérieur à 30 peut entraîner plusieurs processus dans le corps (surchauffe, augmentation du stress oxydatif dans les testicules, dommages à l'ADN des spermatozoïdes, dysfonctionnement érectile) qui peuvent avoir un impact négatif sur la fertilité masculine. Cela peut entraîner des problèmes lors des tentatives de conception.  

CONCLUSION : L'IMC est l'un des facteurs de risque qui influencent la qualité du sperme et, par exemple, la motilité des spermatozoïdes.