8 tips to fast track your fertility
| If you are thinking about getting pregnant, or are already trying but nothing’s happened yet, there’s a few things you can do to get your body in prime baby-making condition. We’ve compiled this quick checklist with the help of fertility specialists Dr Neil Johnson from Fertility Plus and naturopath Loula George, so mums – and dads-to-be – can follow these eight steps to fertility fitness. |
Watch the weight
| A body mass index of between 20-25 kg/m2 is ideal for getting pregnant. Being over or underweight can interfere with the body’s balance of hormones and can even stop ovulation altogether. |
The importance of diet
| Fresh unrefined organic foods and purified water are the way to go, says naturopath Loula George, who advises people to take four months preparing their bodies for pregnancy. “Avoid sugar, coffee and alcohol as these contribute to nutrient loss. And avoid all chemical additives and highly processed foods.” To ensure you’re getting all the important vitamins and minerals, George recommends taking supplements. Antioxidant nutrients vitamins A, C and E, zinc and selenium, plus dandelion tea and garlic can help you to detoxify and eliminate heavy metals and chemicals. Zinc and selenium are also vital for men to produce healthy sperm. Dr Johnson says women planning a pregnancy should definitely take folic acid which reduces the baby’s risk of neural tube defects and “there is some evidence that some outcomes might be improved with well-tested multi-vitamins such as Elevit." |
Get some exercise
| “Two hours a week or half an hour per day is good, and that will help to normalize your weight,” says George. “It’s important to make sure you get enough and not too much.” |
Smoking, alcohol and drugs – just say no
| The evidence is clear that women who smoke are less fertile than women who don’t, says Dr Johnson. “If you’re compromising the oxygen-carrying capabilities of your blood and putting toxins in your blood stream it’s not going to be very good, and that goes for recreational drugs also. They can have an adverse effect on men’s fertility too. If both the man and the woman are just a little bit sub-fertile it decreases their chances even more.” Loula George agrees, “Avoid all drugs. This includes social drugs such as alcohol, caffeine and nicotine which have all been linked to reproductive and fetal ill health, and medicinal drugs except if they are medically prescribed and where they cannot be safely replaced with a natural alternative.” Some experts believe women coming off the pill should wait two to three months before trying for a baby to give the uterine wall time to adjust. |
Clean bill of health
| All women looking to get pregnant should consider having a routine pre-natal blood test which includes a rubella immunity check. Both partners should also have a routine medical check with a GP to screen for genitor-urinary infections, and to review any existing medical conditions which may impact on the pregnancy or the developing embryo says Dr Johnson. |
Reduce chemicals, toxins and radiation
| Male sperm counts have reduced by 50 per cent in the last 50 years because of our exposure to chemicals and toxins, says George. “It’s everywhere. From lead in our houses and the old leaded petrol, to arsenic in treated timber.” |
Sex and the cycle
| “There is ignorance among couples about simple things like when is your most fertile time,” says Dr Johnson. “The change in vaginal mucus is the best way to detect ovulation. If a woman has a regular cycle she tends to ovulate around the 13th or 14th day prior to her next period and for a longer cycle of around 35 days that would be day 21. Having sex every day for five days before and on the day of ovulation will optimize chances of conception. Some people think that having too much sex affects the quality of the sperm but that’s another myth.” And while not scientifically proven, some experts say certain positions may help. Missionary or from behind allows the deepest penetration which means the sperm is deposited right next to the cervix. The female orgasm may play a role too, as the contractions that accompany it may help carry the sperm further into the womb. |
Stress – release the pressure
| While exercise is a great stress-reliever, sometimes it isn’t enough to counter deep-seated stress-related issues. George says: “Stress can be a problem for those who’ve been trying to conceive for a while. We look at ways of minimizing those things that cause stress – are they working too long hours, or juggling too many things – and basically making room for a baby. We tell people to stop trying in those four months and that in itself takes the pressure off. “ Neil Johnson is a fertility specialist for Fertility Plus and Auckland Gynecology Group and an associate professor at |
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