When a female baby is born, she has around 1-2 million eggs. With every menstrual cycle, roughly 3-5 thousand eggs are lost, until they eventually run out. Some women consider egg freezing as an option as this preserves their fertility until they are ready to have a baby in later life.

If you have a regular period, you should be able to determine when you are ovulating because it usually happens around 10-16 days before your period. You may also notice clearer cervical mucus and a small rise in temperature. Some women have other symptoms, like tender breasts or bloating. You could also use an ovulation test to determine when you are ovulating.

If you are trying to conceive, you will need to consider your diet to boost your chances of conceiving. Eggs are one of the top fertility boosting foods because they are full of protein and Vitamins B12 and E. Oily fish, avocado, full fat diary and garlic are some other ingredients you should consider adding to your diet.

Endometriosis is a common condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside of the womb. This tissue is what breaks apart and causes a bleed during a period and when endometriosis happens in the ovary, it can cause a cyst, which may affect a woman’s ovarian reserve and their overall fertility.

Egg donation is when a woman with healthy eggs donates them to another woman who is undergoing fertility treatment. It’s an extraordinary act as it can help a couple with fertility issues to have a baby. It is legal in the UK, but it is not legal to pay a woman for her eggs.

Of course, the five facts above merely scratch the surface and there is still so much more to learn about both female and male fertility. One thing to note, if you have been trying to conceive unsuccessfully for over a year, it might be wise to make an appointment with your GP so that they can carry out an assessment and find out if there is anything that could be causing infertility.

Sometimes cases of infertility go unexplained, but often doctors will be able to come to a conclusion and suggest your options. Bear in mind that if you have been using some form of contraception, it may take some time for your fertility to return to normal.

Your grades are arguably the most important aspect of your application. If you’re struggling with one of your school subjects, perhaps consider private tutoring or ask your teachers if you can attend some additional revision classes to help you secure the best grades possible. Begin your revision earlier and try to make healthy lifestyle choices so that you are better able to concentrate and absorb information. If you are tired and restless, you will struggle with your revision.

Although courses across different universities will share similarities, they will also be different in many ways so it’s a good idea to do some research and tailor your applications to suit each of the commonalities. This will make your application relevant across the board to give you a better chance of securing offers from all of the universities you apply for, rather than standing out to just one. You could speak to the admissions departments directly and ask course related questions if there is something of particular interest to you.

Of course, you’ll be very busy studying for your exams, but it’s important to try and find time to pursue your hobbies outside of your obligatory schoolwork. In doing so, you will be able to demonstrate to universities that you are able to manage your time effectively and juggle multiple commitments, while furthering your skills and potentially even building up additional UCAS points. If you don’t have a particular hobby in mind, perhaps consider volunteering in the community.

Gaining an award will show universities that you are willing to take on new challenges and work hard, which sets you apart. The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) is a good option, because it allows you to demonstrate commitment and determination over a longer period of time.

If you’re currently studying A Levels, you will be learning a lot about the subjects that interest you, but extra reading will benefit you further. It’s really important to universities that their applicants can prove that they are truly engaged in the subject, particularly if you want to stand out amongst the crowd. You can reference your extra reading within your application and explain why it has helped you become better at your chosen subject.

Your teachers will be able to help you with this, but your personal statement is a great opportunity to show that you deserve a place at the universities of your choice. There is a 4,000-character limit, including punctuation and spaces and it should be a total of 47 lines. Within your statement, you should explain why you’re keen to attend university and what makes you a suitable candidate, as well as the relevant skills you have acquired over the years.

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve already done a lot of hard work and have the right mindset to succeed. With that said, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t believe in yourself and have confidence in your abilities.