To mark World Fertility Day, we want to highlight an important idea: looking after your reproductive health shouldn’t only begin when a problem arises or when there is an immediate desire to conceive. It also involves understanding your own body, recognising signs early on, and having clear information to make informed decisions.
In healthcare, it is common to visit the doctor when a symptom or obvious discomfort arises. However, many conditions related to your reproductive health can develop silently and go unnoticed for years, especially when there is no immediate desire to conceive.
And at Barcelona IVF , we want to mark this day with (IN)FERTILITY, an initiative created precisely with this aim in mind: to transform what often remains in the background into useful information, understanding and the ability to make decisions.
Transform:
- The (IN)visible into clear information
- The (IN)understood into knowledge
- The (IN)certain into free decisions.
Because the first step towards positive fertility is, precisely, the right to plan ahead.
The (IN)visible: signs we must not normalise
There are symptoms that many women have learnt to normalise, even though they may be linked to reproductive health issues. Identifying them early is essential:
- Irregular cycles: beyond being a nuisance, they may indicate that ovulation is not occurring regularly. Conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can remain undetected for years, especially in women using hormonal contraceptives.
- Disabling menstrual pain: severe pain that prevents a normal life must always be assessed. It may be a sign of conditions such as endometriosis.
- Metabolic or hormonal changes with no apparent cause: persistent acne, increased hair growth or sudden weight changes may reflect hormonal imbalances that affect fertility.
Recognising these signs makes it easier to take action before a problem arises.
The (Mis)understood: the value of preventive diagnosis
In many cases, an infertility diagnosis comes unexpectedly because certain early signs were not identified or interpreted in time.
Undergoing a basic fertility assessment can be a useful tool for understanding one’s reproductive status and making decisions based on objective information, even if one is not actively trying to conceive.
Simple tests, such as an assessment of ovarian reserve, can provide valuable information for planning with greater confidence.
The (Un)certain: making decisions freely
Positive fertility is based on access to information and the ability to take action before a problem arises. The aim is to enable every woman to:
- Understand her reproductive situation
- Resolve any doubts with specialist advice
- Make informed decisions without pressure
Being proactive does not mean acting prematurely, but having more options to make decisions freely.
