Couple Can Do on Your Own to Enhance and Improve Your Chances of Conceiving

There are certainly some things that you as a couple can do on your own to enhance and improve your chances of conceiving. We would strongly encourage you to initiate each of these steps as soon as possible.

STOP SMOKING! There is no question that cigarette smoking has a very negative effect on a couple's chances of getting pregnant. It has been estimated that, if both partners smoke, their chances of getting pregnant are reduced by as much as 50%, regardless of whether they are trying on their own or undergoing the most sophisticated of techniques. If one partner smokes, this number may still be as high as 33%. Almost everyone says they will quit smoking when they get pregnant - just do it now, assume you will be successful in your efforts to conceive and you will be way ahead of the game.
Limit caffeine You do not need to eliminate caffeine altogether, but there is evidence that consuming more than the equivalent of two cups of coffee a day begins to decrease your chances of conception. Just limit yourselves to this level. There is caffeine in coffee, tea, iced tea, sodas, and chocolate - all of these sources count toward your daily total.
Limit alcohol. Once again, you probably don't need to become a "tea-totaller" while trying to get pregnant. Just use your common sense. There is no question that excessive alcohol intake can have very detrimental effects on, for example, sperm production, but a beer or two on the weekends doesn't hurt a thing.
No illegal drugs. Marijuana use is very hard on sperm production. Anabolic steroids can destroy sperm production forever. Just don't do it.
Take vitamins. It is a good idea for everyone to take vitamins - not megadose vitamins that result in excessive levels of some vitamins - just a good once a day vitamin supplement. This applies to men too. For women, as soon as you begin to attempt to conceive, it is a good idea to start taking a prenatal vitamin in order that you are certain to have plenty of folate around when you do conceive.
Exercise. -Lots of people stop exercising when they begin to try to get pregnant because they think it will improve their chances. Unless you are exercising to extremes - training for marathons, biking hundreds of miles a week, or doing aerobics seven days a week - this just isn't true. Moderate exercise does no harm and can be a very good way to help one deal with the stress associated with difficulty in getting pregnant.
De-stress. Excessive levels of stress can disrupt menstrual cycles or even result in them stopping altogether. Stress also decreases your ability to cope emotionally with the frustration of infertility. If you have a lot of other sources of stress in your life, try to deal with some of those first and then you'll be better able to concentrate on your efforts to conceive.

Topics:

You may also be interested in . . .

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss - Miscarriage, or spontaneous abortion, occurs in about 15 to 20% of all pregnancies, regardless of how they were conceived. Most early losses are a result of the conceptus being genetically abnormal. As few as one in three human conceptions is genetically normal, but most of the genetically abnormal conceptions are lost before the woman even knows she is pregnant. Even so, some genetically abnormal conceptions do survive long enough to result in a recognized pregnancy.

Common Fertility Treatment Mistakes and How to Avoid Them - Ms. Elizabeth Paul (not her real name) was my last appointment of the day, and she brought a thick medical file that described all the medical tests and treatments she had been through. She had consulted doctors on three continents, and was now seeking another medical opinion for her problem of unexplained infertility. She had had four laparoscopies, performed by various doctors in different parts of the world - and had been through six insemination treatment cycles.

Infertility: The Starters Gate - A few weeks ago we were at the county fair. While roaming around the exhibit buildings, we ran into a couple we sang with in choir a few years ago. Sheîs 40, heîs 30; theyîve been married over a year. They donît have kids, but would like to. When I asked her about it some time ago, she said they werenît having any luck. I inquired as to what they had tried, and she replied they were just -winging it.° I told her of my own infertility struggles and offered help as someone who writes about fertility issues as a profession, but she politely refused, saying -winging it° was just fine.

Before You Conceive - So, you are ready to get pregnant. You have your finances and medical insurance in order, your partner is supportive of the decision to have a child, and you feel ready to begin a new journey. Before you begin trying to conceive, there are some things to consider. Healthy moms, healthy babies

Infertility - For many couples, infertility is a crisis, often accompanied by feelings of guilt or inadequacy. But a diagnosis of infertility is not a verdict of sterility. While about 15 percent of all couples are infertile (that is, they are Unable, to conceive after a year of trying), only 1 or 2 per-cent are sterile (meaning that conception is physically ruled out). Of couples who seek help, about half can eventually bear a child, either on their own or with medical assistance.