Top 8 Ways to Naturally Boost Fertility

Falling pregnant is something that many of us take for granted. Simply have sex and get pregnant, right? But for many women, even the smallest health issue can throw your reproductive system off its course and ultimately affect your chances of getting pregnant.

Did you know that over 15% of couples struggle with fertility issues? There are many different genetic and environmental factors that affect fertility, these include an unhealthy diet, smoking and stress, and can affect the reproductive system in both men and women.

With many options and medical advancements, more and more women are seeking natural remedies to naturally boost fertility instead of risky procedures and medicines that can both prove to be quite costly.

If you’re struggling to get pregnant and want to try some less invasive options, see our nifty guide on how to naturally boost fertility.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight or underweight can affect your chances of conceiving. So your weight is one thing to consider to naturally boost fertility.

Excess body fat can lead to an overproduction of certain hormones that disrupt ovulation. This could also mean that your cycles are less regular and lowering your chances of getting pregnant.

Similarly, too little body fat may also cause lower production of the hormones required to ovulate each month. This drop in hormones can also cause issues in pregnancy should you be successful in the conception process.

Not sure if you’re at a healthy body weight? Try working out your BMI (Body Mass Index), using this formula: BMI = kg/m2 . A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 25. Ordinarily, a BMI of over 30 is considered to be a low probability of conceiving.

Your Diet

Try and see the female body as a baby-making machine! Like any machine, it needs to be well oiled and regularly serviced. You need to feed it healthy meals, maintain a healthy weight and see to any health issues you may be facing.

Being well nourished naturally boost fertility. Consider eating foods that are rich in antioxidants like folate and zinc which improve fertility in both women and men by fighting free radicals and other toxins. Free radicals attack the egg and sperm cells which reduce your chances of falling pregnant.

Foods that are high in antioxidants include nuts, fruits, vegetables and grains, these foods are packed full of vitamin C and E, folate, beta-carotene and lutein. Another influencing factor of antioxidants is that a lack of these nutrients has been known to lengthen menstrual cycles – which can lead to fewer ovulation days per month and a higher risk of early miscarriage.

Ask your GP to prescribe a daily vitamin supplement if you think you aren’t meeting your nutritional needs.

Smoking

Tobacco smoke contains many different harmful chemicals that can affect all parts of your body, including the reproductive system. These toxins can damage both the egg and sperm cells and will even affect the health of your baby. In fact, medical practitioners recommend stopping smoking months before trying to conceive.

Smokers are more likely to be infertile in both males and females. Additionally, women who smoke are also more likely to experience early menopause (before the age of 45).

Second-hand smokers may also experience the harms of smoking and may take longer than normal to conceive than women who are not exposed.

If you or your partner are struggling to quit, visit your GP for tips to kick this bad habit.

Think before you drink

Even though you may not be pregnant yet, staying away from alcohol may be something to consider, as drinking can negatively affect fertility.

Studies have shown that drinking more than 8 drinks per week was associated with a prolonged conception time. This can help to naturally boost fertility. Another study found an association between a high alcohol intake with more infertility examinations.

Alcohol abuse during pregnancy is a big no-no. Binge drinking while pregnant can increases chances of adverse effects on your baby’s development, growth, intelligence and behaviour. Unfortunately, defects are long term and could affect your child for the rest of their life.

Have Sex Before Ovulation

Ovulation refers to the release of the egg, it then travels down to the fallopian tubes where fertilization by a sperm cell could occur. If not, the menstruation period commences.

If you’re trying to get pregnant, note that sperm can survive inside the human body for up to five days however, eggs only last between 12 to 24 hours after it’s been released.

We recommend having sex every other day starting from day 10 after menstruation ends. This decreases your chances of missing your fertile time, especially if your cycle length varies from month to month.

Get tested

The sooner you know, the better. Early detection means that your doctor will be able to prescribe prenatal care in addition to recommending the proper nutrition and other healthy habits.

We recommend using a pregnancy test with hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin) like Surecheck that senses fertilisation typically around two weeks post conception. This technology can detect accurate results from the first missed period.

To be sure, test yourself in the morning as the hCG hormone is usually higher in the first-morning pee. Remember to re-test within a few days to exclude the possibility of a false result.

Figure out your fertile days

No matter how much time you and your partner spend under the sheets, if you skip the most fertile days of the month then you’ll struggle falling pregnant! It is important to have sex when your egg is ready.

If you’re unsure about your ovulation schedule, many doctors recommend using Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) for accuracy. These will tell you when your egg is about to be released so that you plan accordingly.

There are also other methods of calculating your ovulation date. The basal body temperature (BBT) charting, cycle date tracking, and even specially designed phone apps, are all helpful and reliable methods.

Surecheck tip: We recommend downloading the Surecheck Calendar app to monitor your monthly cycles with ease.

Relax!

Nowadays, with the busy, fast-paced world that we live in, stress is almost inevitable and this is especially damaging for a woman’s likelihood of falling pregnant.

As your stress levels increase, your body experiences hormonal spikes your chances of falling pregnant decrease. According to studies, anxiety and depression affect up to 30% of women that attend fertility clinics.

If you’re feeling anxious about not falling pregnant, remind yourself that a stressed momma is not natures idea of a hospitable environment for a baby. Try to minimise anxiety and enjoy the process of making a baby with your partner. We recommend speaking to your significant other about your qualms or seeking out support groups and counsellors.

Have a feeling that you might be pregnant? Try a pregnancy test today and be sure with Surecheck.