A medical expert shares 10 fertility tips to give you and your partner the best chance of success.
Are you are thinking of starting or increasing your family? Here are some lifestyle changes you can make to give yourself the best chance of success.
For women
1. Take a prenatal supplementwith at least 1 mg of folic acid. Folic acid helps to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
2. Don’t smoke:Smoking can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, and low-birth weight babies, as well as negatively affect your fertility.
3. Eat a healthy diet.Try to have at least 5-10 servings of fruits and veggies every day. Choose whole grains and good fats like olive oil. Eat a variety of protein sources, such as beans, nuts, seeds, lentils, poultry, and meats.
4. Watch your weight:Women with a body mass index (BMI) of under 19 or over 32 have a lower chance of getting pregnant and an increased risk of miscarriage. If you are overweight, just losing 5-10 pounds can significantly improve your fertility.
5. Know when you are ovulating:Ovulation problems are one of the most common reasons for women having trouble conceiving. If your menstrual cycle is irregular or very far apart (a regular cycle is between 26 and 34 days) then you may not be ovulating regularly.
The easiest way to find out if you are ovulating, and the one I recommend to my patients at Olive, is to use an Ovulation Predictor Kit (OPK) where you pee on a stick and it measures a surge in the luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine.
The 12 to 36 hours from the time you test positive for ovulation is the best time to conceive.
Ovulation predictor kits are useful because they tell you when you are about to ovulate so you can have intercourse before you ovulate. The sperm will live in the body for approximately three days but the egg only lives for 24-48 hours, so it is important to have intercourse before you ovulate rather than after.
For men
Men are constantly producing sperm and sperm production is very sensitive to environmental factors.
6. Don’t expose testicles to excessive heat.This includes hot baths, hot tubs, or saunas. Also avoid tight clothing or working with a laptop on your lap. Continuous exposure to excessive heat can lower your sperm count.
7. Quit smoking:Smoking decreases sperm production.
8. Use prescription drugs with caution and stop using recreational drugs:Anabolic steroids, marijuana, and some prescription medications may reduce sperm production.
9. Take your vitamins: Antioxidants such as vitamin C and E and coenzyme Q 10 can help improve sperm quality.
10. Watch your weight:You should aim for a healthy body weight as being either overweight or underweight can contribute to decreased sperm count and sexual function.
What if we don’t pregnant?
The good news is that most fertility issues can be treated, and the majority of couples will go on to achieve their dream of having a baby. But how do you know when it’s time to get medical advice?
Talk to your doctor
· If you are under the age of 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for at least 12 months, or if you are over 35 and have been trying to conceive for more than six months, you should see a physician. A woman’s chance of getting pregnant decreases after 32, and the chances decrease significantly after age 37.
· If you have been diagnosed with a condition known as endometriosis, or have had a previous pelvic infection or sexually transmitted infection, you are at increased risk of infertility.
· If your partner has a history of infection (e.g. mumps), injury or surgery on his testicles, difficulty with erection or ejaculation, or if he has been diagnosed with a sperm problem.
· If you have irregular menstrual cycles, especially when they occur infrequently (every two, three or more months apart) or those which occur less than 25 days apart.
· If you or your partner has a known health problem such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of cancer treated with radiation or chemotherapy.
· If you have a family history of early menopause among the women in your immediate family (mother, sister), you too may be at risk of the same problem.
The cost of fertility treatment
Many people hesitate to seek the help of a fertility specialist because they are worried about the cost. Fortunately, in Canada your consultations with your family physician and even with fertility specialists as well as initial investigations for infertility are covered by our provincial health plan.
Most treatments used to help a couple conceive are fairly simple and involve minimal or no expense. Often, simple medications or just counselling can help solve the problem. In some cases, the solution requires more advanced technology such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) which are not covered by the Medical Services Plan. Fortunately, most couples are able to resolve their fertility issues and have the baby they are hoping for.
About Dr Gunu Warraich
Dr Gunu Warraich completed her MD degree and a residency in obstetrics/gynecology at the University of Manitoba and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Ottawa. She now practices at the Olive Fertility Clinic in Surrey, BC.
