The decision to have a baby changes your entire life. When you are ready to have a child, without knowing the level of your ability to conceive, you want to ensure that your chances of getting pregnant are the best they can be. That can mean looking at your lifestyle and making some changes that increase your fertility naturally.
Decrease Your Stress Level
Stress can put a damper on both your sexual drive and your reproductive system. "The New York Times" reports that the same chemicals in the body that control stress hormones also control reproductive hormones. When you experience severe stress, your menstrual cycle can cease, stopping any chance of conceiving. Research presented at the June 2006 annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology indicates that behavioral therapy to decrease stress can help improve fertility in women by restoring function of the ovaries if the process of ovulation was previously disrupted by anxiety.
Improve Your Diet
The foods you eat can play a role in your chances of getting pregnant. For maximum fertility, the BabyCenter website recommends going easy on alcohol consumption, cutting back on caffeine, eliminating refined carbohydrates like white bread and rice, eating a range of nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits, avoiding raw or undercooked foods like soft cheese and sushi and taking a prenatal vitamin to make sure you're getting the nutrition you need. Talk to your physician if you're following a diet that eliminates or reduces access to an entire food group, like the Atkins Diet or Zone Diet. Research published in the November 2007 issue of the journal "Obstetrics and Gynecology" indicates that following a diet designed for fertility has a positive effect on fertility when ovulatory problems are to blame.
Get Some Exercise
Getting out for a daily walk or spending time at the gym may help improve your fertility. A report published in the October 2008 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" notes that women who are overweight have a more difficult time getting pregnant for a variety of reasons. One reason may be the effect of estrogen on your body--the Mayo Clinic reveals that this hormone can be affected when you're overweight, and it can stop your body from ovulating. The clinic's website warns, though, that you should avoid rigorous physical activity. Just as carrying too much weight can affect estrogen, getting to much exercise may reduce the progesterone levels in your body, which inhibits ovulation. Discuss your exercise routine with your physician to determine the right level of physical activity for you.
References
- The New York Times: Infertility in Women--Risk Factors
- EurekAlert: Behavioural Therapy Can Restore Ovulation in Infertile Women
- BabyCenter: Fertility Diet
- PubMed: Diet and Lifestyle in the Prevention of Ovulatory Disorder Infertility
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Lower Fertility Associated With Obesity and Underweight
- Mayo Clinic: Female Fertility
