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Couples
who have been trying to conceive can easily grow impatient
when their plans don’t go exactly, or as easily, as planned.
But before concluding that they may have certain fertility
problems or that they need fertility drugs or treatments, it
is good to first take a closer look into the way they are
leading their lives.
Though there are many factors that eventually effect the
process of fertilisation, there are certain steps that can
be taken to improve your chances of conceiving, raise the
odds and also create a healthy environment for the baby soon
to arrive. These simple guidelines can be very beneficial in
improving your fertility health.
Body Weight
Being overweight or underweight can affect the chances of
ovulating normally in a woman. It has been found that women
who have 17% to 21% of their total body weight as fat
provide the ideal condition for ovulation. Have less or more
body fat may hinder your menstrual cycle, make conception
difficult. Women that are underweight may want to consider
putting on some weight if they find that menstruation tends
to be sporadic. Additionally, being underweight may indicate
that you will have a hard time producing the extra amount of
energy required for pregnancy. Maintaining a healthy weight
before conception is therefore advisable.
Overweight women with ovulation and menstrual cycle problems
may want to lose some weight if they are having troubles
conceiving. However, overweight women do not necessarily
need to lose a significant amount of weight in order to help
their conception rates. Even slightly reducing your weight
can increase your chances of conceiving many folds. An
Australian study found that, as soon as a group of obese
women lost almost 20 pounds, their bodies began to
spontaneously ovulate again.
Smoking
It has been known for a long time that smoking has a
negative effect on conception but many fail to realise just
how drastically smoking effects both male and female
fertility. In men who smoke, sperm counts average 17% lower
than those who do not smoke and it can also affect the
health of the sperms.
Women who smoke not only increase the time it takes them to
conceive as well as raise their the risk of spontaneous
miscarriage, they also jeopardise the health of their baby
yet to be born. Female smokers are also at a greater risk
for delivering premature or low birth weight babies and
developing pelvic inflammatory disease.
Studies have shown that smokers are 30% less fertile and
require a much higher dose of fertility drugs if they opt
for fertility treatments than non-smokers. Second hand
smoking, too, is equally dangerous to women and their
pregnancy
The effects of reducing or totally stopping smoking can
produce noticeable results in days. In men, sperm count may
increase by up to 800% while women are likely to get
pregnant easier and faster.
Alcohol, Caffeine and Drugs
Regularly drinking alcohol can reduce fertility levels by up
to 50%. It can also decrease sperm count while increasing
the production of abnormal sperm. Similarly, drugs like
marijuana and cocaine have been found to cause disruptions
in a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Another chemical to avoid in order to improve your chances
of conception is caffeine, which can be found in tea,
coffee, chocolate and soft drinks. Caffeine reduces the
fertility level of both men and women and even a single cup
of coffee may reduce the chances of conception to half.
Exercise
Moderate exercise everyday is key to maintaining a healthy
body. Exercise helps to burn off excess body fat and also
helps in normalising your hormone levels. But while moderate
exercise won’t affect a women’s fertility, being an exercise
fanatic will. Studies have shown that an excessive amount of
exercise results in irregular periods, irregular ovulation
and luteal phase deficiencies.
Some enjoyable, low-impact activities that will keep you fit
include walking, swimming, cycling, yoga and meditation.
Indeed some yoga positions have been found to be very
beneficial to improve the fertility health of both women and
men.
Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy, balanced diet has many advantages. It
helps maintain an ideal body weight, keeps the hormone
levels of the body normal and improves the health of the
reproductive system. When making diet choices, though, reach
for foods that are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and E and
certain minerals.
Both vitamins C and E play key roles in female and male
fertility. A high intake of these vitamins may increase
sperm count and increase sperm motility while in women these
vitamins can reduce stress on eggs and the reproductive
organs.
Sperm need to be able to swim efficiently in order to reach
the egg. Foods that contain antioxidants, vitamin E and
selenium will help improve the sperm motility and make them
better swimmers.
Some research shows that if you are trying to conceive, it
is wise to avoid sea food as the high level of mercury may
be responsible for abnormal semen and decreased fertility.
Many infertility issues crop up due to hormonal imbalances.
This can be avoided by removing all processed flours and
sugars such as white bread, pasta, pop, candy, and sugary
juices from the diet.
Eating foods with a low glycemic index such as fruits,
vegetables, and beans; lean protein like yoghurt, chicken,
tofu, and turkey; and essential fat including walnuts,
sesame seeds, and extra virgin oil at every meal helps
maintain the hormonal balance in the body and improves the
functioning of the reproductive organs.
Certain herbicides and pesticides sprayed on crops have been
found to have drastic effects on fertility. In particular,
xenoestrogens, a type of estrogen, found in environmental
chemicals and pesticides may disturb the hormonal balance in
women and lead to infertility. Choosing organic foods
whenever possible will help you to avoid this chemical as
well as others.
Regular diet, moderate exercise and a healthy mind and body
are key to improve your fertility as well as overall health.
Before loosing hope it is always better to observe your
lifestyle more closely and make some small changes for
better chances of bringing a child into this world.
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