How To Get Pregnant: With Dr Zhongwei Huang

Hosted by Dr Natalie Hutchins

Guest Bio:

Dr Zhongwei Huang is Deputy Director and Adjunct Assistant Professor of NUS Bia-Echo Asia Centre for Reproductive Longevity & Equality, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. He completed his PhD on ovarian biology in 2011 at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, and continues to contribute to the field as a clinician-scientist. Dr. Huang also dedicates his time to undergraduate and postgraduate medical teaching as well as performing translational research on fertility and reproductive ageing. Dr Huang's research has been published in renowned journals such as Nature Aging, Cell Research, Nature Communications, Human Reproduction, Fertility & Sterility, Molecular Human Reproduction, Reproductive Sciences and Clinical Endocrinology.

Dr Huang supports couples with fertility and sexual issues holistically as an integral part of his clinical practice. He also cares for mothers throughout their pregnancy and women in their post reproductive years.

He is the Vice President of the Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society of Singapore (OGSS), President of the Society for the Study of Sexology and Andrology, Singapore (SSASS), Chair, Section of Reproductive Medicine, College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Singapore (COGS) and Treasurer, Menopause Research Society, Singapore.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How female fertility really works: The facts behind egg decline, egg quality, and why fertility drops after 35 but doesn’t disappear overnight.

• Lifestyle and fertility: How weight, nutrition, sleep, smoking and alcohol affect both egg and sperm health.

• Sex and timing: The evidence on how often to have sex, and why tracking apps and ovulation sticks can add more stress than success.

• Fertility supplements that are proven to help: Why folic acid (even with MTHFR variants) and vitamin D remain the only universally recommended ones.

• The menstrual cycle as a vital sign: What your periods reveal about your overall health and fertility status.

• AMH explained: What this test can and cannot tell you about your egg reserve.

• PCOS and endometriosis: How these common conditions influence fertility, and why PCOS is often over-diagnosed in younger women.

• Egg freezing facts: Who it helps, what success rates really look like, and why it’s not an “insurance policy.”

• Miscarriage and male factors: The role of sperm DNA quality and how lifestyle changes can improve outcomes within months.

• Hope after unexplained infertility: Why natural conception can still happen even after failed treatments, and how emotional support improves outcomes.

Key takeaways

• Age is the key driver. Egg numbers and quality decline gradually then steeply after the mid-30s; chances are lower but not zero in the early 40s. Plan with biology, not headlines.

• Ethnic differences exist. On average, some South Asian and Black populations show lower AMH and/or earlier menopause than White European groups—group patterns that should encourage earlier conversations, not fatalism.

• What helps (both partners): Stop smoking, moderate alcohol, optimise weight, sleep and movement; aim for a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern. Folic acid 400 mcg/day before conception remains essential and safe (even with MTHFR variants).

• AMH ≠ fertility score. It’s useful for estimating egg quantity and planning IVF/egg freezing, but it doesn’t predict natural conception on its own. Context matters.

• PCOS & teens: Don’t over-label early post-menarche irregular cycles. In adults with PCOS, many conceive with lifestyle tweaks and gentle ovulation induction.

• Endometriosis: Can impair fertility via pain, scarring and ovarian cysts; early diagnosis and tailored care help.

• Egg freezing: Valuable before chemo/radiation and an option for social reasons, but not a guarantee. Outcomes are better if frozen younger and with more eggs. Expect multiple cycles and ongoing storage costs.

• Miscarriage: Sadly common (~20%); risk increases with maternal age and can be influenced by sperm DNA fragmentation, which may improve over ~3 months with lifestyle and medical optimisation.

When to Seek Help

If you’re trying to conceive, remember these general timelines recommended by fertility guidelines (NICE, ESHRE, WHO):

• Under 35: See your doctor if you haven’t conceived after 12 months of regular, unprotected sex.

• Aged 35–39: Seek advice after 6 months of trying.

• Aged 40 or older: Don’t wait; book a preconception or fertility assessment early.

• Any age: See a doctor sooner if you have irregular or absent periods, very painful periods, known endometriosis, prior pelvic infection or surgery, or your partner has known sperm or testicular issues.

You don’t need to struggle in silence: early conversations with a GP or fertility specialist can identify correctable causes, optimise your health, and often save time, money, and emotional stress.