Improve fertility with healthy habits
If you’ve been trying to conceive but haven’t had much luck, there are simply health changes you can make to boost your fertility.
Eat well
Eating a balanced diet and taking a multivitamin supplement will help keep your menstrual cycle on track. Women who lack certain nutrients — specifically protein, zinc, iron and vitamin C — may develop longer menstrual cycles resulting in less frequent ovulation.
Watch your weight
It’s important to be neither too heavy nor too thin. Excess body fat can lead to an overproduction of hormones; too little body fat, on the other hand, may result in your body not producing enough hormones. Either way, ovulation is disrupted. Exercise is a good way to maintain a healthy weight, but overexercising may result in less frequent or no ovulating.
Stop smoking
Smoking ages the ovaries, making them less fertile. Since this damage isn’t permanent, eliminating cigarettes may help you get some ovarian function back.
Drink healthy
Alcohol consumption is linked with a decreased ability to get pregnant. Alcohol changes estrogen levels and may interfere with fertility. You should also watch your caffeine intake. According to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, women who drank two cups of coffee worth of caffeine were twice as likely to miscarry as women who consumed no caffeine.
Avoid stress
The more you fret about conceiving, the more you hurt your chances. Studies show that women are less likely to conceive during months in which they experience psychological stress. Manage stress with relaxation techniques such as yoga to keep your hormones on track.
There may be other medical reasons why you’ve not yet conceived. It’s important to talk to your doctor about this.
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