Prevention
How can you prevent infertility?
For individuals and couples there can be many reasons why life gets in the way of starting a family. Not having a partner, career, finances, housing, travel, not feeling ready, whatever the reason, many find that it’s just not the right time to have a baby. Some types of infertility aren’t preventable. But several strategies may increase your chances of pregnancy.
Preconception advice for those women planning to get pregnant:
- Manage your weight (healthy weight range is BMI 18.5 to 24kg/m2).
- The Mediterranean diet is a great example of a well-balanced diet.
- Exercising regularly- 30 min of brisk walking, jogging every day.
- Cut out alcohol, smoking and recreational drugs.
- Reduce caffeine intake to 2 cups of coffee or less per day.
- Track your ovulation.
- Start taking pre-pregnancy supplements – Taking the recommended doses of folic acid (at least 400 micrograms a day at least one month before conception reduces the risk of some serious birth defects).
- Women younger than 30 years have a better chance of having a child than older women. Even though women today are healthier and taking better care of themselves than ever before, improved health in later life does not offset the natural age-related decline in fertility.
- Consult your doctor for a pre-conception counselling – if you have a medical disorder, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, before attempting pregnancy.
Pre-conception advice for men
Several strategies to improve your sperm are as follows. But these changes have to be implemented at least three months before conception as it takes about three months to make new sperm.
- Manage your weight – Being overweight can reduce sperm quality
- Exercising regularly – 30 min of brisk walking, jogging every day
- Mediterranean diet is a great example of a well-balanced diet
- Physical activity and healthy diet reduces risk of diabetes
- Cut out alcohol, smoking and recreational drugs
- Reduce exposure to harmful chemicals in the home and workplace
- Keep your testes cool by avoiding tight underwear, spas, saunas and hot baths. Increase in the temperature in your testicles can reduce the quality of your sperm
- Men younger than 40 have a better chance of having a child than older men therefore don’t leave it too late
No matter how healthy you are, or what age you are, sometimes it is difficult to get pregnant. Sometimes people find themselves trying to get pregnant later in life, when it can be a lot more difficult.