Trying to get pregnant can be an exciting experience, but when it doesn’t happen after several months of trying, it’s natural to wonder what you can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant. One of the most common questions we hear from couples who are struggling to conceive is “What helps fertility?”
Some lifestyle changes may help, and it’s a good idea to talk to fertility specialists about what changes you may need to make. Working with the experts at the Center for Reproductive Health is the best way to be sure you’re doing all you can to help fertility.
Better Food Choices
One of the first things to focus on that may help problems with fertility is working on reaching a healthy body weight. Being overweight or underweight can disrupt hormones and impact ovulation. Be sure to include nutrient-rich foods in your diet. Foods rich in antioxidants help to deactivate free radicals that can damage both egg and sperm cells. Examples of foods rich in antioxidants include vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts.
Cut back on processed foods and refined carbohydrates such as sugar and white bread. Refined carbohydrates can affect your blood sugar which can impact hormone production.
Work on Getting More Active
It’s also important to be proactive about including exercise in your daily routine. Moderate exercise can be beneficial to both women and men. Try to include 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise such as walking, swimming or riding a bicycle. This can help you cope with stress and can help to balance hormones. If you haven’t been exercising at all, talk to your doctor to find out the best way to increase your activity gradually.
At the opposite extreme, excessive exercise can be a factor in suppressing ovulation. It can be detrimental to fertility if you exercise vigorously more than 5 hours a week.
Things to Avoid
When you’re trying to get pregnant, there are some things that you should avoid. Stress caused by any source can wreak havoc on your body and unfortunately, infertility may make you feel even more stressed. Work on limiting the stress in your life by making time to relax and learning stress reduction techniques such as deep breathing and meditation.
Avoid toxic chemicals. Toxins may be a hazard at work for some professions such as dry cleaning or printing. Consider what you’re being exposed to at home, such as cleaning products with endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Wear gloves when using strong cleaning products.
Excessive amounts of alcohol or tobacco can affect fertility in both women and men. There’s some evidence that consuming too much caffeine may also have an impact, so it’s best to avoid excessive caffeine when you’re trying to get pregnant.
At the Center for Reproductive Health, we recognize how stressful it is to be unable to get pregnant. Our dedicated staff can answer any questions you may have about things you can do to help fertility. Let us help you on your journey to pursue a healthy pregnancy. Schedule an appointment today.
