Share
31st October 2018
05:08pm GMT
"I say to people, your fertility has a shelf life, it comes to an end. "Your career could go on into your 60s, so you have to prioritise. You can have it all, just not all at once."
Alison struggled for five years with infertility herself before she and her husband welcomed twin girls.
She says she certainly wouldn't discourage her daughters from starting their families young.
"God forgive me but if I had gotten pregnant in my 20s, I know what I would have done. "That just wouldn’t have been acceptable. If my daughter came home to me pregnant in her 20s I’d be going oh well, that’s your lot now and you just adjust your life. "It’s not to say that you can’t have the career but you just have to focus on being mum for a while and go a different path."Her advice for anyone in their 20s who might want children is to have their fertility checked.
The first port of call should be the GP, who can do some basic tests.
You can also visit a fertility clinic to have a more in-depth check-up - and men should be just as proactive as women.
"Get informed, learn about your fertility and take a checkpoint on it every couple of years," she says. "Like the way we have our cervical check and our breast check – just tune into it like that and listen to your body. "It’s a good investment. I’ll be all over it with my girls!"This October is Fertility Month on Her, when we’ll be talking all things reproductive health and having babies. You can check out all of our Fertility Month articles here. Want to get in touch? Email me at anna@her.ie.
Explore more on these topics:
Top Story
The perfect gifts for the fitness guru in your life This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it. If you’re still in the middle of your Christmas shopping, then Gym Plus Coffee is one place you need to check out, especially if you have a fitness-obsessed friend […]
3 days ago
The perfect gifts for the fitness guru in your life This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it. If you’re still in the middle of your Christmas shopping, then Gym Plus Coffee is one place you need to check out, especially if you have a fitness-obsessed friend […]
Health
3 days ago
‘It’s exceeded my expectations’ This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it. A ‘fantastic’ treadmill for at-home workouts has been given a huge, limited time discount. During the winter months you might not be as excited about getting outside for a walk or run anymore, well this […]
Health
1 week ago
The national rate of caesarean sections is at a record level A new HSE report has confirmed a stark rise in the number of women having caesarean sections in Ireland. The HSE confirmed the figure has increased from 29.6% of all women in 2014 to 40.6% in 2024. The Irish Maternity Indicator System report analyses […]
Health
2 weeks ago
Is the Peloton worth the hype? This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it. We want to make sure we don’t miss a bargain throughout Black Friday. We’re buying everything from the perfect travel bag and Christmas sweets to serums from our favourite skincare brands. However, there’s […]
Health
2 weeks ago
Blackrock Health Women’s Health Centre has officially opened Blackrock Health, a cornerstone of Irish healthcare for over 40 years, has opened the Blackrock Health Women’s Health Centre. This state-of-the-art facility, backed by a previously announced €16 million investment, is now open at 2-5 Warrington Place, Dublin 2, marking a pivotal moment in delivering truly holistic […]
Health
3 weeks ago
The HSE believes this step will help reach the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040. The Government has confirmed plans to roll out at-home smear tests from 2026. The HSE believes the rollout will increase the uptake in cervical checks and will help achieve the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040. A home […]
Health
3 weeks ago
Expert reveals the benefits of period sex and you may be surprised
Health
1 month ago
