Easy Lifestyle Changes to Help Increase your Fertility
When you are trying to get pregnant, waiting can be incredibly frustrating. Although it’s normal for the process to take a few months, some couples won’t be able to conceive within a reasonable amount of time because of low fertility or infertility. If you and your partner are struggling to conceive, there are certain lifestyle changes you can make to improve your chances.
1. Maintain a healthy weight.
Being overweight can decrease fertility for both men and women. If you are overweight, losing weight may improve your fertility. For women, being underweight can also be problematic. Underweight women should gain weight to maximize their fertility.
2. Reduce your consumption of alcohol.
Consuming alcohol is known to be dangerous for pregnant and lactating women. However, even before you get pregnant, consuming too much alcohol is a bad idea. Frequent drinking is linked to ovulation disorders, which may make it harder for you to conceive. Consuming too much alcohol may also lower testosterone levels in men, which can affect the quality of sperm.
3. Limit your intake of caffeine.
Some studies have indicated that women who drink significant amounts of caffeine may have trouble conceiving, as well as a higher risk of miscarriage. For this reason, it is important to limit the amount of caffeine you consume when you are trying to conceive, especially if you are already having trouble. In general, you should limit your caffeine intake to no more than 200 mg per day.
4. Quit smoking.
Smoking is harmful to your health in many ways, but it can be especially harmful if you are trying to conceive. For men, smoking can lower sperm counts and affect sperm quality. For women, smoking can make the ovaries age faster, and it can decrease your egg supply. In addition, smoking may increase your risk of ectopic pregnancy by damaging your fallopian tubes and cervix.
In some cases, making lifestyle changes to improve your fertility may not be enough to solve the problem. If you continue to struggle with conception even after making these changes, please contact Northeastern Reproductive Medicine.
