Fertility And Health

There are many things you can do to improve your chances of conceiving. Providing evidence that you are aware of these and have acted upon them will help your gynecologist to agree the next steps with you.

One - The secret is in the timing

Many people are unaware that there are only about six days each month when you might get pregnant and that your best chance (33% average) is on the day of ovulation - when one of the ovaries releases a ripe egg.

It is important that you have sex during this 'window of opportunity' so that the sperm makes contact with the egg and fertilization occurs.

For a woman on a regular 28-day cycle, the day of ovulation will be about 14 days before the start of her period, but this is may be difficult to predict, so it will help to keep a diary and note the pattern of the periods. There are also a number of ovulation prediction kits available and you may consider trying one of these.

Two - Reduce alcohol and cut out smoking

Heavy and/or regular drinking (more than six units per day) can lower a man's sperm count and affect the health of the sperm. Women are also recommended to avoid alcohol when trying to conceive as it can affect a developing fetus and cause birth defects.

Smoking also harms sperm and can reduce a man´s sex drive. It affects ovulation in women and can reduce fertility.

Three - Measure you Body Mass Index(BMI)

BMI is calculated using height and weight and is an indicator of health. Ideally, women should have a BMI between 19 and 30 before they start their IVF cycle. If Woman´s BMI is more than this, then weight loss is recommended to increase the chances of success. Excess body fat in men is also a significant cause of low sperm counts.

Four - Eat Well

Eating a healthy, balanced diet has many advantages. It helps maintain an ideal body weight, keeps the hormone levels of the body normal and improves the health of the reproductive system. Particularly good are foods that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins C and E, and certain minerals. Vitamins C and E and Zinc may play key roles in fertility, increasing sperm count and motility (movement) and reducing stress on eggs and the female reproductive organs.

Foods such as green leafy vegetables (folic acid, calcium and iron), eggs and dairy (calcium), nuts and seeds (vitamin E, zinc and selenium) and citrus fruits (vitamin C) provide the key nutrients.

Five - Reduce caffeine

It is thought that caffeine affects the fertility level of both men and women, so cutting back is a sensible precaution. Caffeine is not just found in tea and coffee but also in chocolate and some soft drinks.

Six - Exercise

Moderate exercise every day is key to maintaining a healthy body, helping to burn off excess body fat and reducing the effect of stress on hormone levels. For men, it can boost the fertility hormone testosterone but it is important that women avoid excessive exercise as this can result in irregular periods. Some enjoyable, low-impact activities include walking, swimming, cycling, Pilates and yoga.

Seven - Men should avoid hard bicycle seats and hot baths

Overheated testicles can temporarily lower sperm counts. So, men should avoid saunas, hot baths, sun bathing and tight underwear.

In addition, regular and prolonged cycling on hard bike seats can also reduce fertility through pressure on the perineum–potentially damaging nerves and blood vessels to the genital area. Consider a gel seat for cushioning these parts of the body.

Eight - Get more sleep

Getting good regular sleep of about 8 hours or more per night can help both men and women optimize their fertility. Lack of sleep can have a negative effect on hormone levels, with studies of professions involving sleep deprivation (flight attendants, shift workers, etc.) showing an increase in irregular periods among women.

Nine - Think about your health

Take advice about the treatments you are taking to see if these may affect fertility. Other factors that may have an adverse effect on your fertility are over the counter medicines, some herbal remedies such as St John´s Wort, Ginkgo Biloba and Echinacea.

Ten - Take it easy

Lastly, don´t forget to take time to wind down and enjoy each other´s company.

Emotional stress has profound effects, including interfering with the hormone responsible for egg and sperm production. Consider taking regular exercise, getting home on time and taking more frequent and/or longer holidays, which can all help to reduce the pressure.

Historically, infertility has been considered a women's disease. It is only within the last fifty years that the importance of the male factor contribution to infertility has been recognized, and it is now known that it is probably responsible for 50-60% of cases. The mistaken notion that infertility is associated with impotence or decreased masculinity may contribute to this fear. The good news is that the rapid research advances in the area of male reproduction have brought about dramatic changes in the ability to both diagnose and treat male infertility. At Bourn Hall Clinic, the majority of couples suffering from infertility can now be helped to conceive a child of their own.