A staggering one in three couples now has trouble conceiving, with one in seven forced to seek medical help – and at least a quarter of all pregnant women miscarry.

With misleading information all over the internet, GPs varying in their support and understanding, and well-meaning friends and family full of anecdotal advice, it can be hard to know where to turn.

Thankfully Dr Marilyn Glenville, president of the Royal Society of Medicine and the UK's leading expert in woman's health, has put together a simple guide called Getting Pregnant Faster.

"It has been designed for individuals. No two couples are ever alike in terms of what may be preventing them from getting pregnant, which is why it is so important to have all the information that addresses your needs at your fingertips," she says.

"From many years' experience of helping couples to become parents it is clear that a well-structured plan is needed – one that ticks all the boxes – so that you know what you should be doing and when, in order not to waste time."

With female fertility declining rapidly after an average age of 35, coupled with the growing trend for many women to delay trying for their first baby until their mid-30s, she says that time is of the essence.

"Although we all look and feel much younger these days, our biological clocks are still ticking over at exactly the same rate that our grandmothers' generation were, and we all have a limited reserve of eggs, so the need to devise an efficient three-month action plan is vital in order to make the most of the time remaining.

"My book is designed for any woman who wants to have a baby, from those who are thinking about it for the first time to those who have been trying for months, or even years, without results," she says, adding that it is also useful for couples undergoing IVF, IUI or ICSI as it can help prepare the body for these infertility treatments, and therefore provide the best chance for success.

"Couples who have already had a baby will also find it useful if they are struggling to conceive again, and likewise, it will be beneficial to those who are going for egg or sperm donation and those who have had one or more miscarriage."

FOOD AND FERTILITY
"If you're sceptical about the connection between food and fertility, bear in mind that your body uses the nutrients from the food that you eat – and the supplements that you take – to repair cells, produce hormones and ultimately produce healthy eggs and sperm," she advises.
She believes that, in many ways, your fertility depends upon what you eat.

A healthy, nutrient-rich, balanced diet in the preconception period will not only boost your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby, it will also keep your blood sugar levels in balance and your weight under control, according to Glen- ville.

"A healthy, well-balanced diet of fresh, whole foods is the cornerstone of my fertility-boosting action plan."

SUPER SUPPLEMENTS
"Zinc is right at the top of my list for both men and women. Not only does it improve sperm count in men, it also makes the head of the sperm harder and has a direct effect on sex hormones in both sexes.

"I would also add in some vitamin C because it's an antioxidant so can help prevent DNA damage which affects chromosomes and could increase the risk of miscarriage or damaged sperm.

"For men specifically I'd recommend amino acids like arginine for sperm maturity, and co-enzyme Q10 which actually helps to power the sperm along.

"I really do believe that supplements are vital when you are trying to conceive because it's often a struggle to get what we need from the food we eat these days due to a depletion of nutrients in the soil as a result of over-farming, and also the longer distances that food tends to travel today."

DR GLENVILLE'S TOP THREE FERTILITY TIPS

• Clean up your diet, including reducing the amount of alcohol and caffeine consumed.


• Take fertility boosting supplements.


• Look at the stress in your life and make sure that you remove as many worry factors as possible.


• Getting Pregnant Faster, by Dr Marilyn Glenville, is published by Kyle Cathie, priced £9.99. Available now.