Struggling to conceive can be painful, frustrating, lonely and humiliating, as each member of the partnership comes to terms with what they so desperately want and what, for whatever known or unknown reason, they can’t have. The ability to conceive is something that most people take for granted, until they are ready to welcome a baby into the world. In a world where we spend more time thinking about how to prevent ourselves or a partner from conceiving, switching that mindset to becoming preoccupied about our fertility can be a shock to the system.
Our understanding of fertility has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years and today, medical professionals are skilled at picking up potential signs of infertility. What’s more, modern technology allows us to track our periods, analyse our cycle and even conduct our own progesteron tests, which are able to offer results in just a couple of days. However, these advances don’t help to alleviate the complete feeling of helplessness and inadequacy that many women experience when they are struggling to conceive.
Experts at Oxford Online Pharmacy recommend that women who are trying to conceive should focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Additionally, they suggest taking supplements that contain zinc, folate, and other essential vitamins and minerals that can support fertility. It’s also important to talk to your healthcare provider if you’re struggling to conceive, as they can offer advice and support tailored to your individual needs.
There are, fortunately, a few lifestyle choices that women can make which will not only help to improve their fertility, but will help give a sense of control and purpose in an otherwise uncontrollable situation.
Keep a healthy weight
We all know that being significantly underweight or overweight can have implications on your health and wellbeing, but did you know it can impact your reproductive health? Carrying excess weight can cause you to produce excess oestrogen, while being underweight can cause you to produce too little oestrogen. Oestrogen is responsible for the growth and repair of the lining of the uterus, as well as triggering ovulation. Too little or too much oestrogen can impact ovulation and significantly reduce your chances of conceiving.
Quit smoking
This may be obvious but it is surprising how many would-be mums smoke – even occasionally- with the intention of giving up when they get pregnant. There evidence to suggest that smoking has a direct impact on your fertility, so if you want to give yourself the best possible chance of conceiving, you want to give up smoking and all nicotine based products.
Minimise your drinking
During one of the most stressful times of your life, you may well turn to your weekend drinks as a welcome respite from your day to day anxiety, especially if you want to combat the crushing disappointment when you get your period. While moderate drinking (two or three drinks) is fine, drinking to excess can reduce your fertility. If you really want the best possible chance of conceiving, though, you will quit drinking entirely and switch out your alcoholic treats with an alcohol-free alternative.
Exercise – but not too much
Exercise doesn’t just help keep your body in great condition, it gives you a healthy mind, too. In fact, studies showed that women who did moderate exercise for three or more hours a week had more regular periods and improved fertility. There is a fine balance here, as too much intensive exercise can actually reduce your chances of conceiving.
Eat your way to fertility
Diet is a central part of your health and wellbeing and while you may want to reach for the comfort foods at such a stressful time, that may not be the best idea. Eating a large breakfast can help to regulate your hormones and has been seen to be especially beneficial in regulating periods for women with PCOS (Poly cystic ovary syndrome). It is also useful to eat a diet packed with zinc and folate; these can improve the fertility of both men and women as they neutralise free radicals, which can cause damage to egg and sperm cells.
Eat a diet that is rich in fruit and nuts, vegetables and grains. If you feel that you are unable to get enough vitamins C and E, beta carotene, lutein and folate naturally, consider taking fertility supplements.
Watch the carbs and trans fats
While eating healthy fats present in olive oil, avocadoes, oily fish and nuts is great for your reproductive cycle, trans fats are linked to infertility in men and women as a result of their impact on insulin sensitivity. To boost your fertility, switch baked goods, processed food and fried food for healthier, nutrient-rich alternatives.
Trans fats can impact fertility because of their affect on insulin sensitivity. Insulin has a similar chemical make-up to ovarian hormones, so if there is too much insulin in our system, our body is tricked into producing fewer reproductive hormones. This can stop our eggs from maturing, and impact ovulation. Carbohydrates also impact our insulin levels. High GI (Glycaemic Level) foods provide a sugar hit that needs insulin; this rise in insulin can lead to fewer reproductive hormones. So, cutting down on high GI foods could also help to improve your fertility.
Take care of you
Conceiving is one of the most wonderful and terrible times of our lives. The burden of responsibility and immense privilege of first getting pregnant, bringing a baby to term, and caring for it for the rest of your life is both terrifying and beautiful. In order to do this to the very best of your ability, you first need to take care of you. Meditation, yoga, and a generally healthy lifestyle will put you in a great place to start your journey to parenthood. Remember, always, to take time out for you to care for your body and soul; and remember that your ability to conceive is not an indication of your worth as a person or your capacity for love.
