Fertility is an issue many people struggle with. Fertility is the natural capability of giving life, but for some it comes easier than for others. Fertility is not just a problem for women, but it is also a problem for men. Both women and men have hormonal cycles which determine both when a woman can achieve pregnancy and when a man is most virile. Fertility is highest when the woman is most fertile and the man is most virile.

When it comes to fertility, a woman has a cycle. Most women have about a 28 day cycle and are most fertile on day 14. For men, they can produce sperm at any time, but there are times during the month when their sperm quality is higher, and thus more likely to fertilize an egg.

Let's take a look at male and female fertility, and then how it plays a role in conception.

Women's fertility:

Women are only fertile a few days a month. They have what is called a menstrual cycle, and during this cycle the pituitary gland hormones stimulate the release of an egg from the ovaries into the fallopian tubes. When the egg is in the tubes that is when a woman is fertile. If the egg is fertilized during that time it will them move into the uterus and implant itself on the uterine wall. If it is not fertilized, it will be discharged, and a woman will have a period. The time when the egg is released into the fallopian tubes is called ovulation. A woman is only fertile for 2 days before and after the ovulation date. The reason for this time frame is that the egg is fertilizable for about 48 hours after it is released from the ovaries. However, because sperm can live in the woman's reproductive system for 2-3 days, having sex a couple of days before the egg is released can still result in pregnancy. So, you have a few days before the woman ovulates, and a couple days after to conceive.

Most women do not become fertile until the age of 13 or so. It differs from person to person. However, their most fertile peaks are between the ages of 19 and 24. Usually fertility starts to decline significantly after the age of 30, and declines significantly from there. Statistics have shown that at age 30, 75% of women trying to get pregnant will get pregnant within one year, and 91% within four years. At age 35, 66% will get pregnant within one year, and 84% within four years. At age 40, 44% will get pregnant within one year, and 64% within four years. So you can see that as age goes up, the likelihood of pregnancy goes down.

While you can still conceive as you get older, there are going to be more risk of birth defects, especially those involving chromosome number and arrangement. However, using fertility drugs, or in vitro fertilization can help the process.

A woman's body gives her signs when she is most fertile, and those indicators can be tracked if someone is trying to get pregnant. By tracking the signs, they can have more frequent sex around the most fertile times of the month in order to increase likelihood of pregnancy.

The three main indicators of highest fertility are the basal body temperature, the amount and appearance of cervical mucus, and the cervical position. The following is a brief description of how these can be tracked to help you know when you are most fertile.

Basal body temperature: When a woman's menstrual cycle begins, it is common for her body temperature to drop ever so slightly, and then to raise right before ovulation. This raise is only slight, only have a degree or so, but if you consistently track your basal body temperature, this is a good indicator of ovulation. To track your basal body temperature you need to buy a basal body thermometer. Then, each morning, right after you wake up, before you do anything else, you will want to take your temperature. Record it. You will start to see a pattern, and will be able to figure out your menstrual cycle, including what day you ovulate each cycle. For most women the menstrual cycle is 28 days long, and ovulation starts on day 14.

Cervical mucus: The lining of the woman's uterine canal produces a fluid to help protect it. This is called cervical mucus. During the different stages of the menstrual cycle, this mucus changes color and consistency. At the start of the cycle it is usually really light, and a woman will feel dry. The color is typically cloudy, and the consistency tacky. It will change ever so slightly. Right before ovulation it is often referred to as "egg-white" as it is often clear and very slippery, and you produce a lot more of it. This is when you are most fertile, and it is one of the easiest methods of tracking fertility. To check it you would just want to check the mucus, or discharge when you wipe, or on your panty liner. When you notice it start to lighten and get more pliable, you are at the most fertile stage.

Cervical position: The cervix moves, and when you ovulate it is at its highest position. If you consistently check the cervical position you will be able to tell when you are about to ovulate. In order to check the cervical potion you will want to sit or squat, and then insert your finger into the vaginal canal until you feel the cervix. Take note of the position it is in. At the beginning and end of the menstrual cycle it will be the lowest, and during ovulation, your finger will barely be able to reach it. This is when you are most fertile.

That is the basics of female fertility. Now let's take a look at male fertility.

Male fertility

Men are fertile far longer than women are. While men may suffer from erectile dysfunction as they get older, their actual sperm count may still be high, and they are still fertile. Most fertility issues with men are decreased semen volume, problems with sperm motility, or sperm morphology. These problems increase with age, but unlike women, men in their later years (such as 70s and 80s) can still be fertile.

The following are the typical fertility factors for men:

Age: Sperm count declines with age. Studies have shown that men aged 50-80 years produce only 75% of the average sperm that men age 20-50 produce. However, the sperm they do produce can still be mature, and very capable of fertilizing an egg. In fact, statistics show that in males 20-39 years old, 90% of the seminiferous tubules contain mature sperm, in males 40-69 years old, 50% of the seminiferous tubules contain mature sperm, and on average 80 years or older only have 10% containing mature sperm. Of course, this is going to differ from male to male, but on average, for a man, the most fertile period is before 40. However, men can still donate sperm until the age of 50 in the United States.

Like with women, the older a man gets, the higher the risk of children having birth defects or problems, but again this is totally dependent on the person.

Fertility in general:

When it comes to fertility, it is very individual. There are averages and guidelines doctors recommend, such as women not having babies after 40, and men not after 50. However, the actual results are subjective and depend entirely on the person. Some women have had perfectly healthy babies into their fifties, while others have babies with birth defects during their 20s. Age, race, gender, all play a part in fertility, but your own personal health plays the biggest role. The healthier you are the higher chance you have of being fertile.

Problems with fertility are numerous, and different for each person. For some the problem may be too thick of cervical mucus, for others it is scarring in the fallopian tubes that make it difficult for sperm to reach the eggs, and for some sperm is simply not motile enough.

If you want to increase your chances at conception it is best to have intercourse during your most fertile period - the days just before and after the woman ovulates. Ovulation usually occurs 14 days before the start of your next menstrual period, but can be different for each woman. You can track your ovulation, have your doctor help you figure it out, or use ovulation screening tests to help you figure out when you are most fertile.

If you are doing what you can to have intercourse during your most fertile periods and are still not getting pregnant (for a year), then you can talk to your doctor about getting tested for fertility problems.