Question

I'm 36 and have been trying to get pregnant for six months. I'm starting to panic that it will never happen because of my age and lifestyle. My husband and I spent our twenties partying hard, and although we've now cut back on alcohol and stopped smoking, my husband has been very stressed about work lately and has begun to use cocaine again - recreationally, he says. We also work incredibly long hours and drink far too much coffee, and my husband often works at home on the laptop. I don't want to resort to medical intervention just yet, but have we ruined our chances of conceiving naturally? Is there anything we can do to boost our chances?

· If you have a health question for our experts, email health@observer.co.uk

The nutritionist
Dr Marilyn Glenville

First, see your GP to check for underlying health problems. This is the recommended advice for any woman beyond the age of 35 who has been trying to conceive for six months. Once you have the all-clear your husband must stop taking drugs and you should both stop drinking. You could both see the benefits in three months, as studies suggest men make a new batch of sperm every 90 days, so your husband can detoxify his in this time, making it stronger and healthier. Women take the same time to mature an egg. Opt for organic food and avoid plastic wrapping, too, as both pesticides and plastics contain 'xenoestrogens', chemicals that have been linked to low sperm counts and fertility problems. Take a zinc supplement as this has the biggest impact on hormone health and strengthens sperm. If you still haven't conceived after another six months see your GP again for further checks.

·Dr Marilyn Glenville specialises in women's health and is the author of Natural Solutions to Infertility (Piatkis, £12.99)

The drug counsellor
Lorraine Barwell

Change is crucial if you want to have a happy, healthy child. While you seem to have calmed down, your husband's drug use is worrying. Cocaine has been linked with a lower sperm count, less sperm mobility and more abnormal sperm. In one study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association it was found cocaine may even attach itself to sperm, enter an egg at the moment of conception and damage the foetus - common problems suffered by 'cocaine babies' are premature birth and low weight. If your partner is an occasional user - for example, twice a month - he can detox at home by simply not taking any more cocaine, avoiding alcohol and eating healthily. But a more serious addiction will require support to overcome. Treatment centres will be able to give you free and confidential advice, including more advice about fertility.

· Lorraine Barwell works for Addaction, Britain's largest specialist drug and alcohol treatment charity addaction.org.uk

The fertility specialist
Dr Gillian Lockwood

Take heart - although 50 per cent of fertile couples conceive within the first three months, around 90 per cent of fertile couples will conceive within a year. Make some rapid changes to maximise your chances. Minimise stress, as it unleashes prolactin, the hormone women produce during breastfeeding to prevent another pregnancy. Unwind with self-hypnosis (good bookshops will stock a guide). Your husband should also avoid using his computer on his lap, as the latest research, published in the journal Human Reproduction, suggests that intense heat can lower a man's sperm count by at least 40 per cent (sperm should be one degree below body temperature for optimum health). Cut down on caffeine, as drinking more than two strong coffees a day for both men and women has been linked to a delay in conception. And if these changes don't make a difference within six months, ask your GP for referral to a fertility specialist.

· Dr Gillian Lockwood is medical director of Midland Fertility Services midlandfertility.com