Clinical Executive Justine Lacy unpacks infertility issues for South African couples, sharing what can help aid their journey to success.
South Africa (20 March 2024) – Profmed‘s Justine Lacy, a clinical executive, recently unpacked infertility issues faced by South African couples and shared that 1 in 6 couples will experience trouble conceiving. In an interview with Aden Thomas from HeartFM, Justine shares a few things couples need to know.
She explains that 12 months or longer is what is considered infertility for couples actively trying; however, it may be a few more years before doctors become concerned and turn to alternative treatments to help a couple conceive. Infertility is the result of reproductive issues in one or both people within a couple.
Justine goes on to explain that male infertility accounts for 35% of trouble conceiving and that while the medical fraternity may always look to the woman first, a balanced approach to testing and treatment is needed in most cases.
On the subject of treatments, Justine shares that couples should proceed slowly to start.
“The advice would be to resist the temptation to rush into expensive treatments; the best thing to do if one is concerned is to consult an infertility specialist – if they feel the problem is relevant, they will take a medical history – which is important to establish what has happened with the couple” – Justine Lacy, Profmed Clinical Executive
Following that consultation, they would then start an infertility workup, which includes testing blood and a physical exam for both partners.
Before getting to the serious parts, couples can try to boost their fertility through natural methods, such as good food choices, lifestyle changes, and exercise.
Get Active
Getting active doesn’t mean hitting the gym hard; it can be taking a stroll together, getting the blood pumping and the heart rate up while still connecting with each other. The key is to get up and change one’s space and one’s focus.
Take Time to Relax
Stress can contribute to infertility in a big way and unchecked stress can lead to anxiety and depression. Taking time to relax is important, and managing stress in everyday life is essential.
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When you get home to your partner, shift the focus of the stressful day to mindfulness and give yourself and your partner an escape from the day-to-day. This can be running a bubble bath, talking through some of the sticky points of the day, or sitting down for a movie.
Just kick up your feet, give a foot rub and relax together – it will do wonders for you both!
Get to a Healthy Weight
A healthy weight is essential for boosting fertility. Having your body at its healthiest is bound to benefit you in all aspects of life. If you are not at your best weight, there are ways to easily (and sustainably) get there.
Losing weight can often feel like an uphill battle, but it doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the right approach, you can shed kilos in a healthy and sustainable way, without starving yourself. Profmed’s top 10 hacks for healthy weight loss are available here.
Eat Well
Eating well is important too; a healthy, balanced diet keeps your body balanced, but there are specific food types you can eat that will boost fertility. We recently shared a feature highlighting the top 10 foods that support fertility, which you can read here.
You can listen to the interview with Justine Lacy and Aden from HeartFM here.
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