(PCM) According to a new study published in the journal PLoS One, there may be a “computational approach” to getting pregnant. Scientists have devised a fertility calculator (in a sense), which uses a woman’s age and how long she’s been trying to get pregnant to calculate her chance of conceiving that month.
For example, a 25-year-old who has been trying to get pregnant for 3 months has an 18 percent chance of conceiving that month. If they’ve been trying for six months, the chance drops to 15 percent; a 35-year-old woman trying for 6 months has a less than 10 percent chance.
The researchers from the University of Warwick and the London School of Economics say that this formula can help couples who are having trouble conceiving discuss fertility issues with their GP.
“People feel embarrassed and upset and don’t want to go to the doctor. Men, in particular, can be a little bit reluctant,” says researcher Professor Geraldine Hartshorne. “As time goes by and people have been trying for a while, they start to get stressed and upset and that can affect their chances of having sex and then becoming pregnant. Approaching a doctor about a personal matter is daunting, so knowing the right time to start investigations would be a useful step forward.”
According to Daily Mail, the new research has been passed on to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which formulates health guidelines. In other words, this may be a new standard in pregnancy planning in our near future.
But for now, talk to your doctor about any concerns or questions you may have about starting a family.
