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We’ve extracted a snapshot of
the Juno Fertility MOT. Add up your
points and your total score will give
you an insight into how fertile you
currently are.
1. How do you feel about
starting a family?
A. It feels like the right thing to
do at this stage in my life
B. I’m desperate to be a mum
C. I’m not ready for children
2. Do you have a lot of stress
in your life?
A. I’m continually stressed
and don’t deal with pressure
very well
B. Not really; I cope well with
normal daily pressures
C. I have a very demanding
job and/or personal life but
I’m managing to keep things
in perspective
3. How do you relax at the end
of a stressful day?
A. With a good book or in front
of my favourite TV programme
B. I hardly ever switch off, I
don’t remember the last time
I felt relaxed
C. With a glass (or three)
of wine.
4. Would you describe yourself
as an anxious person?
A. No, not at all
B. Sometimes; it depends on
the situation
C. Yes, definitely
5. How emotional are you?
A. Not particularly, but I might
shed a few tears at a weepy film
B. I cry easily; sometimes for
no reason at all
C. I’m not emotional at all and
find it difficult to cry
6. How many hours do you
work in an average week?
A. About 40 hours or less
B. 41-50 hours
C. More than 50 hours
7. How often do you take work
home with you?
A. Never
B. Twice a week or more
C. Once a week
8. How much sleep do you get
per night?
A. Seven hours
B. Six hours or less, or I do shift
work, so my sleep pattern varies
C. Eight hours
9. Do you smoke?
A. I smoke one or more
cigarettes every day
B. I just have the odd
cigarette socially
C. No
10. How do you usually
eat your lunch?
A. At my desk while I’m
still working
B. I make sure I take a break
from work and eat in a
relaxed environment
C. I rarely have time for lunch
11. How much water do
you drink in a day?
A. Under one litre. Do the ice
cubes in my G&T count?
B. Two or three litres
C. About 1 litre
12. What is your daily
caffeine intake?
A. None; I don’t drink tea,
coffee or caffeinated drinks
B. One cup of tea, coffee or
caffeinated a day
C. Two or more cups of
tea, coffee or caffeinated
drinks a day
13. How much alcohol do you
drink in a week?
A. 3 or more units a week
B. I rarely drink, if ever
C. 1 or 2 units a week
14. Do you eat a healthy,
balanced diet?
A. Yes, I eat a varied diet, but
have a takeaway or ready meal
once or twice a week
B. I don’t really have time to
cook and often rely on
convenience foods
C. Yes, I always eat a balance
of protein, carbohydrates
(vegetables and whole grains,
not refined carbs) and good fats
in every meal
15. How regular are your
periods?
A. Really erratic; I never know
when they are going to come
B. Fairly regular, but they vary
between 21 and 35 days apart
C. They are like clockwork
every month
16. What are your periods like?
A. Sometimes painful at the
beginning with a little clotting
B. Heavy, clotted and painful
C. Pretty easy and stress-free
17. Do you suffer from PMS?
A. No
B. Sometimes I’m a bit more
sensitive than usual before
my period
C. Yes, my emotions are very
erratic when my period is due
18. Are you prone to getting
thrush?
A. Yes I get it frequently
B. I’ve had it a couple of times
C. No, I’ve never had it
19. Have you ever used the
contraceptive pill, implant
or injection?
A. Yes, but not for more than
one year at a time and not in
the past year
SCORING:
1. A = 3 B = 5 C = 1
2. A = 1 B = 5 C = 3
3. A = 5 B = 1 C = 3
4. A = 5 B = 3 C = 1
5. A = 3 B = 1 C = 5
6. A = 5 B = 3 C = 1
7. A = 5 B = 1 C = 3
8. A = 3 B = 1 C = 5
9. A = 1 B = 3 C = 5
10. A = 3 B = 5 C = 1
11. A = 1 B = 5 C = 3
12. A = 5 B = 3 C = 1
13. A = 1 B = 5 C = 3
14. A = 3 B = 1 C = 5
15. A = 1 B = 3 C = 5
16. A = 3 B = 1 C = 5
17. A = 5 B = 3 C = 1
18. A = 1 B = 3 C = 5
19. A = 3 B = 5 C = 1
20. A = 5 B = 3 C = 1
��-��
You may need to improve your
reproductive health. Prolonged
stress and lack of sleep can alter
your hormonal balance. “If you’re
stressed, your body will release
too much adrenaline which can
suppress your oestrogen and
progesterone levels, which has a
huge affect on your chances of
conceiving,” says Berman. And the
importance of a nutritious diet
free from cigarettes and alcohol
cannot be underestimated. Think
about where you might need to
make changes in your lifestyle,
health or diet and give yourself at
least three months to notice a
difference in your periods, energy
levels and general wellbeing,
which will all be positive signs of
improved fertility.
FERTILITY
B. No
C. Yes, I’m on it now or I’ve
used it for more than a year or
I’ve taken it in the past year
20. How would you describe
your sex drive?
A. Good and generally
increased mid-cycle and before
my period
B. It varies
C I rarely feel in the mood
��-��
If you score in this bracket then
your reproductive health should
be fine, but there’s definitely
room for improvement in certain
areas. “Often things you wouldn’t
consider, such as dehydration,
stress, lack of sleep and your
metabolism can have a marked
effect on your fertility. If you’re
dehydrated, for example, because
your body will prioritise what’s
most urgent in any situation,
water will be diverted to essential
organs first. As your reproductive
system is low down on the list of
priorities it will be switched off,”
explains Berman. Keep supping
the H2O! Look at which
categories pulled your score
down and then you’ll know where
to concentrate your efforts in
order to bring your score up.
��-���
You’re doing all the right things
to ensure good reproductive
health so your fertility should
be in good shape. If you do
experience difficulties conceiving
then look at your overall health,
lifestyle and environment. A
study reported in The British
Medical Journal showed that
drinking just six units of alcohol
per week could reduce a woman’s
fertility by 45%. Encourage
your partner to look at his
lifestyle, too. “Alcohol,
cigarettes, drugs and stress
all affect sperm count and
sperm mobility,” explains Nicola
Berman from Juno Fertility.
Remember it can take up to
a year for a healthy couple to
fall pregnant.
The Juno Fertility MOT is launching 6-7 Nov at The Fertility Show, Olympia 2,
Hammersmith Rd, London W14 and costs £54.99; junonaturalfertility.com.
Niocola Berman and Cassie Everett will be there to answer your questions
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