8 ways to boost your chances of conceiving
Many women struggle to become pregnant. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 17.5% of the adult population experience infertility. This is generally classified as being unable to achieve pregnancy after at least one year of attempting to conceive.
There is a myriad of factors that affect an individual’s fertility, including medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. These disorders cannot be cured but can be managed through different approaches to ease symptoms and improve fertility.
Fortunately, making changes to your lifestyle can help improve the likelihood of conception.
Here are eight tips I give my patients when they are trying to conceive:
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being over- or underweight can hinder your body’s ability to ovulate and have a normal menstrual cycle.
- Avoid smoking entirely and limit/avoid alcohol. Alcohol can impact your hormones and smoking can age your ovaries.
- Limit toxin exposure as much as possible. Many products in homes – and in processed foods – can negatively impact the chances of becoming pregnant. Educate yourself about the products in your environment and seek out healthy alternatives whenever possible.
- Improve your diet. Make sure you are eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats and cutting down on refined foods.
- Start taking a prenatal. Prenatal vitamins are designed to support fertility and pregnancy. Don’t wait until you are pregnant to begin taking them.
- Monitor your caffeine intake. Limit your intake to no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day.
- Exercise. Commit to getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. Keep in mind that exercising too aggressively or too little can lead to troubles with conception and fertility.
- Lower your stress levels. Telling a woman not to worry or stress when she is struggling to become pregnant isn’t particularly helpful or effective. However, finding ways to lower stress levels in other areas of life is critical not just for fertility but for overall health.
The best step to take when facing infertility is to find the right physician for you – someone who understands your needs and concerns and can discuss the potential factors impacting your ability to conceive.
Dr. Kristin Kniech is an OB-GYN physician with Aurora Health Care.
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